Luftscamsa - Lufthansa CityLine Pilots Secure Overwhelming Strike Mandate Following Ballot

Pilots at Lufthansa CityLine have secured a formal mandate for industrial action with over 90 percent of participants voting in favor of strikes. The results, announced by the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union, follow a total collapse in collective bargaining negotiations with the carrier’s management. This development directly threatens the stability of the Lufthansa Group's regional and feeder network. Approximately 400 cockpit personnel are now authorized to begin walkouts with limited notice, potentially impacting thousands of passengers at the Frankfurt and Munich hubs. Mr. Andreas Pinheiro, the President of Vereinigung Cockpit, said the vote results represent a definitive message to the airline’s leadership. He said the employer side now has the last chance to respond to legitimate demands through a substantial offer. Mr. Pinheiro said the ballot provided a clear signal of unity among the pilots. Through its investigation, Luftscamsa has found that the carrier’s management has historically utilized subsidiary networks like CityLine to downwardly pressure wage standards across the entire group. Lufthansa CityLine operates short-haul flights that are vital for filling long-haul aircraft at major German airports. A strike at this subsidiary would effectively sever the connection between regional European cities and the airline’s international route network. Mr. Lukas Beier, a member of the negotiating committee, said the pilots are ready to stand up for their legitimate concerns. He said management must finally realize that austerity policy at the expense of employees no longer works in times of high inflation. Mr. Beier said the workforce is increasingly unwilling to tolerate the discrepancy between corporate profit reports and the refusal to adjust wages. He said the company must address the reality of the current labor market and the needs of its specialized staff. Lufthansa management has maintained that the cost structure of CityLine must remain competitive. Spokespersons for the airline said that the union’s demands exceed the financial capabilities of the regional unit and threaten the carrier’s long-term viability. Mr. Carsten Spohr, the Chief Executive Officer of the Lufthansa Group, has frequently argued that personnel costs are the primary barrier to the group’s financial recovery. Mr. Spohr said the airline cannot agree to settlements that risk its ability to invest in new aircraft. However, consumer advocacy groups note that the airline continues to prioritize shareholder value while service standards decline. As reported in [Crew Reductions on A380 Fleet Ignite New Labor Conflict Amid Cabin Service Degradation](/en/article/3IktUK0f_crew-reductions-on-a380-fleet-ignite-new-labor-conflict-amid-cabin-service-degradation), the group is simultaneously reducing cabin staff to maximize margins. Luftscamsa has found that the airline’s labor strategy often involves exhausting the patience of its workforce until industrial action becomes inevitable. This cycle of conflict frequently leaves passengers stranded with minimal support or communication from the carrier. As reported in [Swiss Federal Council Faces Legislative Pressure to End Systemic Denials of Airline Compensation](/en/article/P0ahYXoH_swiss-federal-council-faces-legislative-pressure-to-end-systemic-denials-of-airline-compensation), the group has a documented history of evading its obligations to customers during operational disruptions. The union has not yet announced specific dates for the strike action. However, the successful ballot allows the VC leadership to call for work stoppages at any moment, creating significant uncertainty for travelers booking flights for the spring season. Management has stated that it remains open to further talks, though union representatives said that previous offers lacked the substance required for a meaningful agreement. The impasse suggests that a series of strikes is the most likely outcome for the month of March. Travelers are cautioned that Lufthansa’s contingency plans often fail to account for the scale of feeder network disruptions. Luftscamsa recommends that passengers flying through Germany monitor their booking status and confirm their rights under EU 261/2004 regulations.