Lufthansa strike cancels nearly 800 flights in Germany

Lufthansa pilots and cabin crew staged a 24-hour strike on 12 February 2026, prompting the cancellation of nearly 800 flights and disrupting travel for around 100,000 passengers. The heaviest impact was at Frankfurt and Munich, with about 450 of 1,117 scheduled flights canceled at Frankfurt alone. Some regional airports were also affected, including Düsseldorf and Münster/Osnabrück. Lufthansa rebooked customers, offered rail alternatives on domestic routes, and stated that compensation applies under EU rules. The airline aimed to return to a near-normal schedule by 13 February.

Lufthansa’s operations in Germany were heavily disrupted on Thursday, 12 February 2026, when coordinated 24-hour strikes by pilots and cabin crew led to the cancellation of nearly 800 flights, affecting approximately 100,000 passengers. The actions involved separate disputes, with pilots seeking improved employer pension contributions and cabin crew pushing for talks over contract terms and protections during planned restructuring.

Disruptions were most concentrated at the airline’s main hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. At Frankfurt, around 450 of 1,117 scheduled flights were canceled. Munich also experienced extensive cancellations across domestic and international services. Regional impacts varied: Düsseldorf Airport reported 12 canceled flights, largely on routes to Munich and Frankfurt, while Münster/Osnabrück had one evening flight to Munich canceled. Cologne/Bonn was largely unaffected.

Lufthansa characterized the impact as harsh but indicated it aimed to restore a near-normal schedule by Friday, 13 February. The airline began assisting affected customers with rebooking, including options on Lufthansa Group partners such as Swiss, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines, as well as other carriers. Domestic travelers were offered free rail alternatives. Reports from airports described long rebooking queues and difficulties for passengers, including delays and issues with baggage.

Other airlines not involved in the action—including Eurowings, Discover, Ryanair, EasyJet, Condor, Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Brussels Airlines, and ITA Airways—continued operating as normal.

Lufthansa outlined remedies consistent with European passenger protection rules, including automatic rebooking, refunds, catering, hotel accommodation where needed, and compensation. The airline indicated that compensation between €250 and €600 applies because these strike-related cancellations do not fall under “extraordinary circumstances.”

The strike coincided with high-profile events in Germany, adding to the visibility of the disruption. While operational recovery was targeted for the following day, the one-day stoppage caused severe disruption at major hubs and select regional airports, with extensive cancellations and widespread passenger inconvenience.