Lufthansa is pulling out all the stops to celebrate its 100th anniversary in the most authentic way possible, and it involves lots of industrial action. A few weeks ago, Lufthansa pilots went on a two-day strike, and now Lufthansa flight attendants are planning a one-day strike.
In this post:
Details of the Lufthansa flight attendant strike
The Independent Flight Attendants Organization (UFO), which is the union representing Lufthansa flight attendants, has called on its members to engage in a strike. With this strike, the expectation is that virtually all flights departing from Germany on Friday, April 10, 2026, will be canceled (between 12:01AM and 10PM). This will hit passengers really hard, given that it’s right at the end of the Easter holiday, which is popular for travel.
This strike impacts Lufthansa and Lufthansa CityLine, but doesn’t apply to other Lufthansa Group airlines, like Austrian or SWISS. It’s expected that roughly 100,000 passengers will be impacted by the strike. Lufthansa is trying to minimize the impact of the strike as much as possible by having some flights operated by other airlines within the Lufthansa Group.
In a statement, Lufthansa blasted the union, sharing “viable solutions can only be achieved through dialogue,” “strikes must always be the last resort,” and “we remain open to talks and therefore call on the union to resume dialogue with us.”
What Lufthansa flight attendants are fighting for
Why are Lufthansa flight attendants going on strike? Well, it stems from the two sides not being able to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement, and for around five months, zero progress has reportedly been made. Recently flight attendants could vote on whether to pursue industrial action, and 94% voted in favor of that.
The union is outright accusing Lufthansa of failing to submit an offer, claiming the airline hasn’t moved “one millimeter.” Instead, Lufthansa is seeking cuts to existing benefits and protections, which the union isn’t even willing to consider.
This strike doesn’t just involve Lufthansa, but also Lufthansa CityLine, though. Lufthansa CityLine is currently being dissolved and is being replaced by Lufthansa City Airlines, as part of a play to reduce labor costs. After all, Lufthansa Group’s specialty is finding new labor arbitrage opportunities.
According to the union, the strike at Lufthansa CityLine is due to the “continued unwillingness of the employer to enter into negotiations on a collectively agreed social plan, to address our demands, or at least to submit a negotiable offer, despite the planned cessation of flight operations and the existential consequences for around 800 cabin crew members.”
Bottom line
Lufthansa flight attendants are going on strike on Friday, April 10, 2026, and a vast majority of flights are expected to be canceled. This all follows a strike from pilots last month, with neither work group seemingly being any closer to a new contract. Hopefully both pilots and flight attendants can get a new contract soon, since it’s not good to have the potential of strikes at any moment.
What do you make of this Lufthansa flight attendant strike?
These women are paid six figures to serve drinks and smile. How much more do they seriously think they are worth??
As well as the sexism, the claim that Lufthansa staff smile is highly inaccurate.
Hope the workers get what they're looking for. Under EU261, compensation is generally due for strikes by airline staff (pilots, cabin crew) as these are within the company’s control. Wish we had similar worker and consumer protections in the US. Someday.
We do. It’s called the railroad act. It protects consumers.
You’re begging for fire insurance instead of a fire extinguisher. Infested mind.
At this point it should no longer be called Lufthansa, but Groundhansa
Frankly, I’m tired off being used as a pawn in these circumstances, both sides don’t care about the people that ultimately pay their salaries and generate their revenue.
With Lufthansa we can firmly rely on one thing: how unreliable they consistently are.
And LH leadership seem still convinced that replacing tableware is THE thing that will change everything.
It seems like pilots and flight attendants of European airlines are always going on strike.
Since it is the flight attendants that are going on a strike one could argue that Lufthansa could still fly. Why? Well, their flight attendants strike the whole year. The only difference tomorrow is that they are then paid by the union and not Lufthansa.
It's hard to find Lufthansa flight attendants willing to work while on the job. At no more than two hours into a long-haul flight they bark at the passengers,...
Since it is the flight attendants that are going on a strike one could argue that Lufthansa could still fly. Why? Well, their flight attendants strike the whole year. The only difference tomorrow is that they are then paid by the union and not Lufthansa.
It's hard to find Lufthansa flight attendants willing to work while on the job. At no more than two hours into a long-haul flight they bark at the passengers, "Wir moechten auch mal Feierabend machen!"
It's really laughable that they are striking again. Want better labour conditions? What's to top here? Just board the aircraft before pushback and deplane after landing. In the meantime eat, sleep, drink, play, ignore all duties, and get money for that.
Many European airlines, in particular from the southern part, have leared their lessen and signficantly improved labor relations, resulting in very few strikes these days. Lufthansa (and Germany in general) has gone the other way around. They used to have good labor relations and hardly any strikes. But nowadays, Germany is the most strike prone country.
You are partially right Andy. Yes, if you look at other European airlines, Lufthansa (not even LHG, but just LH and it's low-cost subsidiaries) are the ones that have the worst labour relations in all of Europe. But it's not a Germany problem, as countries like France, the UK, Spain and even Nordic ones are considerably more prone to strikes than Germany is.
The underlying issue is Lufthansa, plain and simple. LH management has taken...
You are partially right Andy. Yes, if you look at other European airlines, Lufthansa (not even LHG, but just LH and it's low-cost subsidiaries) are the ones that have the worst labour relations in all of Europe. But it's not a Germany problem, as countries like France, the UK, Spain and even Nordic ones are considerably more prone to strikes than Germany is.
The underlying issue is Lufthansa, plain and simple. LH management has taken a turn for the worse over the past decade or so and it seems like nobody really cares, mainly because in the grand scheme of things, the effects thereof might not be as visible at the moment due to Germany still having a relatively high degree of economic wellbeing. But the moment that starts to drop off, LH (again, not LHG) will be in the gutter.
I think all airline workers in every country should go on strike on April 10th. :D It would be awesome watching the chaos.
I think all airline workers in every country should receive fair and reasonable contracts. It would be awesome watching the traveling public (especially those with young children) easily getting to where their going.
Good for them. US Flight attendants should take note.
You should take note of the Railway Labor Act.