Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 15, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 16, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleGermany’s pilots union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) says Lufthansa has turned down its offer to settle the ongoing wage dispute through arbitration, heightening tensions amid earlier failed negotiations.
BERLIN, April 15 (Reuters) - Germany's VC pilots' union and airline Lufthansa are deadlocked on whether to enter arbitration after both parties put forward different conditions to take up the offer.
VC, which has threatened strike action, said on Wednesday that Lufthansa <LHAG.DE> had rejected its offer of arbitration in their ongoing labour dispute.
Lufthansa had made far-reaching demands a condition for the proceedings, including not only addressing outstanding labour disputes at the core Lufthansa brand and its cargo subsidiary, but also existing contracts, some with long terms, it said.
This calls established agreements into question, added VC representative Andreas Pinheiro.
In response, a spokesperson for the airline group said it was still open to arbitration.
"We are prepared for extensive arbitration for Lufthansa Classic and Lufthansa Cargo," said a Lufthansa spokesperson in a statement.
"For a fresh start, all our major collective bargaining issues must be included in arbitration: retirement and transitional benefits, compensation, and also working conditions."
(Writing by Miranda MurrayEditing by Madeline Chambers)
Lufthansa and the German pilots union VC are in an ongoing wage dispute.
The German pilots union VC offered arbitration to resolve the labour dispute.
Lufthansa rejected the pilots union’s offer of arbitration.
The statement about the rejection was made by the German pilots union VC in Berlin.
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