Schlichtung: Weitere Pilotenstreiks bei der Lufthansa vorerst abgewendet

Passengers of Lufthansa need not fear further strikes from pilots for now. The union "Vereinigung Cockpit" (VC) announced in a member newsletter that it has agreed to a comprehensive mediation process with the company, covering open tariff issues in the operations of Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa Cityline and Eurowings. The negotiations will be accompanied by mediation.

The VC stated that the agreement includes defined exit options for both sides. Lufthansa confirmed a fundamental agreement with the VC, but declined to comment on details due to the agreed confidentiality. The VC had already called seven days of strikes this year, even during the centennial celebrations of the founding of the first Lufthansa, when hundreds of flights were canceled.

The company has estimated the costs of the labor dispute at around 150 million euros. Officially, the dispute is about pension and salary issues. However, the conflict also stems from the management's strategy to shift planes and crews to airlines with lower tariff provisions, as seen when Regional company Cityline was shut down abruptly in April, resulting in 1,300 employees losing their jobs and 20,000 summer flights cancelled.

Other connections were redirected to the new, nearly identical company Lufthansa City Airlines. Cabin union Ufo had also gone on strike against Lufthansa in April, with the last reported talks minimal.