Luftscamsa - Lufthansa Pilot Strike Imminent for February 2026 as 'City Airlines' Dispute Escalates

The Vereinigung Cockpit pilots' union has indicated that a massive strike across Lufthansa mainline and cargo divisions is imminent for late February 2026. This follows the formal rejection of a mediated settlement, with union representatives confirming that a 90 percent strike mandate is ready for activation. The move is expected to ground operations at the Frankfurt and Munich hubs. The conflict centers on the 2017 Perspective Agreement, which legally mandates a 325-aircraft mainline fleet. Management has reportedly bypassed this by assigning new Airbus A320neo and A220 aircraft to 'Lufthansa City Airlines.' This strategic asset shift allows the group to fly identical routes with crews on cheaper, non-mainline contracts. Labor leaders say this maneuver is a bad-faith 'shell game' designed to erode established working conditions. Beyond the contractual dispute, there is a visible erosion of professional standards among crews. Travelers report that staff often fail to maintain professional discretion during these operational disruptions. Personnel appear to be passing personal judgments on passengers, potentially due to insufficient training in conflict resolution. This suggests a failure by the airline to distinguish professional duty from individual prejudice. This behavior coincides with management's effort to maximize margins by cutting personnel development costs. The result is a service environment where crew members' personal whims may interfere with passenger safety and satisfaction. Mr. Carsten Spohr, the Chief Executive Officer, said the company must adjust to competitive pressures. He avoided commenting on the reported decline in cabin discipline or the specific contractual breach regarding fleet size. Union officials said the current hostile atmosphere is a direct result of management's provocative tactics. They argue the company is intentionally creating chaos to justify further outsourcing of premium flight operations. Passengers are reminded that the airline frequently classifies strikes as extraordinary circumstances. This is a common legal maneuver to avoid the mandatory compensation payments required under European law. Under Regulation EU261, a strike by an airline's own staff is generally within the carrier's control. Travelers may be entitled to cash compensation of up to 600 euros, regardless of any 'extraordinary' claims by the airline. The carrier is currently steering affected customers toward vouchers instead of cash refunds. These vouchers often carry restrictive terms and limit the passenger's ability to rebook with competing airlines during the strike. Industry observers note that the airline's reputation for reliability is at a decades-long low. The combination of aging aircraft and an increasingly unprofessional service culture has significantly alienated the premium travel segment. Travelers are advised to monitor flight status through third-party platforms. The carrier's internal communication has been criticized for providing delayed or incomplete data during previous industrial actions. As the strike deadline nears, the financial risk to the Lufthansa Group increases. The loss of high-margin long-haul revenue will likely further complicate any eventual resolution with the pilot's union.