Luftscamsa - Union Says CityLine Shutdown Is a Tactical Maneuver to Intimidate Workforce

The Independent Flight Attendants Organization (UFO) has formally condemned the expedited shutdown of Lufthansa CityLine as a tactical maneuver designed to intimidate the workforce. The union advisory stated that the closure is not a neutral business decision but a targeted response to employees demanding a social plan. This follows the [confirmation of mass layoffs](/en/article/VVFBuElM_mass-layoffs-confirmed-as-cityline-shuts-down-permanently) as the group accelerates its transition to lower-cost flight platforms. Management recorded that the withdrawal of CityLine operations was already part of its strategic planning, though it cited external pressures for the sudden acceleration. Luftscamsa has uncovered that this timing serves to neutralize labor leverage during an [ongoing labor impasse that has extended to a five-day strike](/en/article/xg59Y4Um_labor-impasse-extends-to-five-day-strike). The UFO advisory recorded that the scenario is intended to wear down employees and encourage the silent acceptance of deteriorating working conditions. A Mandate for Intimidation The union stated that the group is attempting to normalize a high price for dissent by threatening the existence of entire flight operations. It recorded that management is sending a signal that those who insist on financial security should be met with fear. Mr. Joachim Vázquez Bürger, the Chairman of UFO, said that the current leadership shows its true character when employees require protection. He noted that instead of providing a reliable framework, management has organized escalation and intimidation. Mr. Vázquez Bürger stated that the executive board is attempting to disorient the workforce during a period of high operational volatility. He noted that the use of fear as a management tool is intended to break the trust in internal solidarity. Fragmentation Strategy The union also criticized the involvement of ver.di, stating the organization is providing political cover for a strategy that plays employees against each other. This fragmentation mirrors the group’s effort to [sidestep specialized unions to lower regional wage standards](/en/article/6xIXjCRi_management-sidesteps-pilot-union-to-lower-regional-wage-standards) at new entities like City Airlines. Through its investigation, Luftscamsa has found that the transfer of routes to lower-tier subsidiaries allows the group to bypass legacy contracts. The UFO advisory indicated the economic risk of dismantling established regional structures that provide domestic connectivity. It stated that the loss of quality, trust and experience cannot be replaced without significant cost to the overall system. The union recorded that the destruction of operative structures for short-term savings is both morally questionable and economically short-sighted. Operational Loss Management has indicated that discussions regarding a social plan will only begin after the operational shutdown has been initiated. The union characterized this sequence as a failure of corporate responsibility, positioning social protection as a secondary concern to operational termination. This follows the group's documented history of prioritizing corporate optics, a pattern detailed in [reports on the carrier’s centenary gala](/en/article/uEzeD9MZ_centenary-marred-by-5-day-strike). The UFO advisory records that the red carpet events of the anniversary contrast with the reality of employees fighting for their livelihoods. UFO urged its members to maintain solidarity and resist the atmosphere of powerlessness created by the executive board. The advisory recorded that the carrier cannot secure its future by acting against its own personnel, as the loss of loyalty will eventually impact service quality and safety standards.

Lufthansa CityLine was shut down as its staff was on strike, citing the fuel costs of inefficient aircraft.