Lufthansa cabin crew strike on 10 April 2026: what you need to know

If you're flying with Lufthansa on April 10th, you may already be facing some unwelcome news. Cabin crew union UFO has called a one-day strike affecting Lufthansa and Lufthansa CityLine flights across Germany — and if your flight is canceled or delayed by 3 or more hours, you may be eligible for up to €600 compensation. Here's everything you need to know.

The UFO union called Lufthansa cabin crew out on strike from 00:01 to 10:00 pm on Friday, 10 April 2026. The walkout affects all Lufthansa departures from Frankfurt and Munich airports, and Lufthansa CityLine departures from Hamburg, Bremen, Stuttgart, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Berlin and Hanover.

Lufthansa has warned that 80–90% of flights could be canceled. The dispute centres on working conditions for around 19,000 cabin crew and a social plan for approximately 800 CityLine employees affected by the subsidiary's planned closure.

Other airlines in the Lufthansa Group are not affected. Flights operated by Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, SWISS, Air Dolomiti, Discover Airlines, Edelweiss, and Lufthansa City Airlines will run as normal.

Which airports are affected?

• Berlin Brandenburg Airport

• Bremen Airport

• Cologne Bonn Airport

• Dusseldorf Airport

• Frankfurt Airport

• Hamburg Airport

• Hannover Airport

• Munich Airport

• Stuttgart Airport

These are the airports officially named in the strike action, but the disruption won't stop there. Knock-on cancellations and delays are likely to ripple across Lufthansa's wider network — meaning passengers on connecting flights could also be eligible for up to €600 in compensation.

Yes — and this is the important part. A cabin crew strike is not classed as extraordinary circumstances under EU air passenger rights regulation EC 261. That means Lufthansa is responsible for the disruption, and you could be owed up to €600 compensation.

This is different from an air traffic control strike or extreme weather, which are treated as extraordinary circumstances and don't qualify for compensation.

You may be eligible if:

• Your flight’s canceled less than 14 days before departure

• Your flight arrives at your destination 3 or more hours late

And your flight either departed from an EU airport, or was operated by an EU airline flying into the EU.

How much compensation could I get?

The amount depends on the distance of your flight:

• €250 — flights up to 1,500 km

• €400 — flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km

• €600 — flights over 3,500 km

Even if your flight ultimately operates, Frankfurt and Munich airports will be under significant pressure. Check in online if you haven't already, and consider travelling with hand luggage only to avoid baggage delays.

We recommend arriving earlier than usual:

• Short-haul flights: at least 2–3 hours before departure

• Long-haul flights: at least 3–4 hours before departure

Also, even if your flight is delayed, you must be at your gate at the original departure time shown on your ticket, unless Lufthansa tells you otherwise.

What are my rights if my flight is canceled?

First and foremost, you could be entitled to up to €600 in compensation. Check your flight for free here.

On top of that, Lufthansa must also offer you either:

• A full refund

• A free rebooking to your destination at the earliest opportunity

Compensation and rebooking aren't mutually exclusive — you can claim both.

Lufthansa has said it will rebook affected passengers automatically and contact them directly. If you booked through a travel agency, contact them instead.

What are my rights if my flight is delayed?

If your flight arrives at your destination 3 or more hours late, you could be entitled to up to €600 in compensation. Check your flight for free with our compensation tool.

The airline is also required to provide care while you wait — including meals, refreshments, and access to communication from 2 hours of delay. If an overnight stay is needed, accommodation must be covered too.

Keep your receipts for anything you spend. You may be able to reclaim reasonable costs.

What if I can't get hold of Lufthansa?

During large-scale disruptions, airlines can become very difficult to reach. If that happens:

• Try multiple channels — the Lufthansa app, website, phone, and social media

• Check whether self-service rebooking is available through your booking

• If you booked via a travel agency, contact them directly

• Keep a record of all attempts to contact the airline

If you need to book an alternative flight yourself, keep all receipts. You may be able to claim those costs back.

How do I claim compensation?

You have up to 3 years to make a claim (this varies slightly by country). But there's no reason to wait — you can check your eligibility and start your claim at airhelp.com.

AirHelp works on a no win, no fee basis. We only take a fee if we successfully secure compensation for you.

A strike day is stressful enough without constantly refreshing your airline's website. The AirHelp app tracks your journey in real time and alerts you to gate changes, delays, and updates — and keeps your passenger rights close at hand, every step of the way.