Second strike avoided as Lufthansa and pilots reach deal

By Abi Carter

German airline Lufthansa has at the last minute managed to avert a two-day pilot strike after it finally reached a deal with union bosses over salaries

Second strike averted as Lufthansa and pilots reach deal

After the first strike last week, which forced the cancellation of over 800 flights and left 130.000 passengers stranded, Lufthansa has narrowly avoided a second round of pilot strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Late on Monday, just a few hours before the industrial action was scheduled to begin, the Vereinigung Cockpit union announced, “An agreement has been reached.” Lufthansa bosses later confirmed that the wage agreement was not yet set in stone but met the union’s demand of being an offer “serious” enough to call off the strikes. 

Strikes paralysing Lufthansa operations in Germany

The two sides will continue to negotiate before revealing new proposals later this week. Vereinigung Cockpit has been demanding a 5,5 percent pay rise for the 5.000 pilots it represents in Germany, as well as automatic inflation adjustments for 2023. Lufthansa most recently offered a blanket increase of 900 euros per employee. 

The last round of strikes paralysed Lufthansa operations in Germany, forcing the cancellation of almost all flights leaving the airline’s hubs in Frankfurt and Munich and costing the airline 32 million euros. 

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
follow us for regular updates:

Abi Carter

Editor in chief at IamExpat Media

Abi studied German and History at the University of Manchester and has since lived in Berlin, Hamburg and Utrecht, working since 2017 as a writer, editor and content marketeer. Although she's happily taken on some German and Dutch quirks, she keeps a stash of Yorkshire Tea on hand, because nowhere does a brew quite like home.Read more

For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.