FRANKFURT, GERMANY – A 48-hour strike by Lufthansa pilots shut down around 60% of flights, hitting the main hubs of Frankfurt and Munich as well as long-haul routes to Asia and North America.
48-hour walkout starting 13 April 2026
Since 13 April 2026, pilots at Lufthansa and its subsidiaries had been on a 48-hour strike. The work stoppage was organised by the German pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit.
According to the report, roughly 60% of scheduled flights were expected to be cancelled or not operate. Travellers across Europe had to prepare for significant disruption.
Frankfurt and Munich at the centre of disruption
The main Lufthansa hubs Frankfurt and Munich were particularly hard hit. Most cancellations and rescheduling reportedly originated from these airports.
Other major airports also reported noticeable knock-on effects, especially secondary delays. Rotations, crews and connecting services were thrown out of sync, the report stated.
Long-haul routes to Asia and North America hardest hit
Long-haul connections to North America and Asia were reportedly affected most severely, with far-reaching cancellations. These routes are central for transfer passengers connecting via Frankfurt and Munich.
The situation was relevant for travellers to Thailand, as many flights to Southeast Asia ran via Lufthansa hubs. Disruptions could ripple along the entire travel chain, and passengers with onward journeys were advised to build in extra buffers.
Middle East largely spared from cancellations
Flights to the Middle East remained mostly unaffected, according to the report. These routes were excluded from the strike impact due to specific security requirements.
This led to an uneven regional effect: while Asia and North America routes suffered heavily, some corridors stayed more stable. For passengers, this could matter when rebooking if alternative routings were offered.
Dispute over wages and pension rights
The strike stemmed from a deadlocked conflict between Lufthansa and Vereinigung Cockpit over salaries and pension entitlements. Negotiations had failed, according to the report, triggering the escalation.
Additional pressure came from earlier protests by cabin crew, which had already strained operations. The current pilots’ strike significantly intensified the situation for the airline.
Last-minute talks possible but no deal yet
Union representatives indicated they remained open to last-minute negotiations.
“We are still open to last-minute talks.”
said union representatives.
However, no agreement had been reached at the time of the report. It therefore remained unclear whether a short-term settlement would be achieved while flight operations were already heavily restricted, and travellers were advised to monitor the situation and expect sudden changes.
Passenger rights: keep receipts and document costs
Legal experts advised affected passengers to keep all receipts and carefully document expenses. Depending on the case, they might be entitled to reimbursement or compensation.
The report noted that many travellers could have claims under EU and UK air passenger rights rules. Which specific benefits applied would depend on the individual circumstances and the relevant regulations.