Lufthansa, CityLine warn of Feb 12 disruptions amid strikes in Germany

Lufthansa Group anticipates network-wide disruption on Thursday, 12 February, due to a 24-hour strike by Vereinigung Cockpit at Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo, alongside a parallel strike by the UFO union at CityLine. All flights departing German airports that day are expected to be affected, with CityLine departures from major hubs including Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Bremen, Stuttgart, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Berlin, and Hanover disrupted. Lufthansa called the action short-notice and said customers on impacted flights will be notified.

Lufthansa Group is preparing for significant schedule disruption on Thursday, 12 February, following coordinated industrial action by pilot and cabin crew unions in Germany.

The pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) has announced a 24-hour strike targeting Lufthansa’s mainline operations and Lufthansa Cargo in a dispute over retirement benefits. According to the announcement, all flights departing from German airports that day are expected to be affected.

Separately, the UFO union representing CityLine flight attendants has called a strike for the same date. This action responds to plans to shut down CityLine’s flight operations and the union’s contention that management has not engaged on a collective social plan. As a result, CityLine departures from major German airports—including Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Bremen, Stuttgart, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Berlin, and Hanover—will be disrupted.

Lufthansa described the strike calls as extremely short-notice and disproportionate, warning of a considerable impact on passengers. The airline stated that sustainable solutions require dialogue and urged the unions to return to negotiations. Customers with bookings on affected flights will be automatically notified by the airline.

The simultaneous strikes by pilots and cabin crew are expected to cause a widespread breakdown in flight schedules across Lufthansa’s network on 12 February. Both long-haul and short-haul services are targeted, meaning travelers should plan for disruption and monitor airline communications closely for updates on their specific flights and any rebooking options.

This disruption is limited to the one-day, 24-hour strike period on 12 February. No specific figures on the number of flights or passengers affected were provided. Travelers departing German airports that day, especially on Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo, and CityLine services, should verify the status of their flights and consider alternative arrangements where necessary.