German airline to cancel flights as pilots stage 48-hour strike

WorldBusiness & Finance
12 Mar 2026 • 8:16 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Lufthansa passengers in Germany face significant delays until Saturday due to a 48-hour pilot strike called by the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union.
  • The industrial action affects all Lufthansa flights departing German airports on Thursday and Friday.
  • The strike stems from an ongoing pension dispute and "failed collective bargaining negotiations on remuneration issues at Lufthansa CityLine".
  • Lufthansa anticipates operating over 50 per cent of its planned flight programme, including up to 60 per cent of long-haul connections, and advises travellers to check their flight status.
  • Affected passengers can rebook for free, convert tickets to Deutsche Bahn for specific routes, or request a voucher, with the airline expecting to resume a regular schedule from Saturday, 14 March.

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