Finance
Lufthansa says majority of flights took place on first day of pilot strike
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 12, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 12, 2026
Quick Summary
On March 12, Lufthansa reported that despite a two‑day pilot strike over pensions, more than half of its scheduled flights operated—though the VC union claimed the disruption was deeper, citing a 70 percent grounding rate by mid‑afternoon.
Lufthansa Maintains Over Half of Scheduled Flights Amid Pilot Strike in Germany
Impact and Developments of the Lufthansa Pilot Strike
Flight Operations During the Strike
FRANKFURT, March 12 (Reuters) - More than half of Lufthansa flights to and from Germany took place on Thursday, the first of two strike days by pilots over pensions, the airline said, although the union said more flights had been hit.
Union Actions and Airline Response
The VC union called strikes on Lufthansa passenger and cargo flights from German airports on Thursday and Friday, hitting the German flag carrier and passengers as the sector tries to cope with chaos caused by the Iran war.
Flight Schedule Adjustments
Lufthansa had said on Wednesday it would operate more than half of its scheduled flights during the two-day walkout, including 60% of long-haul routes and 80% of cargo flights.
"The reduced flight schedule is taking place as announced," a Lufthansa spokesperson said.
Union's Perspective on Disruption
However, VC played up the disruption, saying some 70% of Lufthansa flights had been grounded by 3 p.m local time (1400 GMT) on Thursday due to the industrial action, adding its estimate was based on solid data. It said it was still waiting to receive a negotiable offer from Lufthansa.
Effects at Frankfurt Airport
At Frankfurt airport, the airline's largest hub, operator Fraport recorded 426 cancellations from an original schedule of 1,168 take-offs and landings, representing a cancellation rate of 36%.
(Reporting by Ilona WissenbachWriting by Madeline ChambersEditing by Linda Pasquini)
Key Takeaways
- •Lufthansa maintained over 50 % of its scheduled flights on March 12 despite the VC‑called strike, including 60 % of long‑haul services and 80 % of cargo flights (marketscreener.com).
- •The VC union estimated a more severe impact, stating that by 3 p.m. (1400 GMT), around 70 % of Lufthansa flights were grounded, based on its data (marketscreener.com).
- •At Frankfurt Airport, Fraport recorded 426 cancellations out of 1,168 scheduled take‑offs and landings—a 36 % cancellation rate (marketscreener.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Lufthansa says majority of flights took place on first day of pilot strike
1How many Lufthansa flights operated during the first day of the pilot strike?
More than half of Lufthansa's scheduled flights took place on the first day, including 60% of long-haul and 80% of cargo flights.
2What percentage of Lufthansa flights did the union claim were grounded?
The VC union claimed around 70% of Lufthansa flights had been grounded by 3 p.m. local time on Thursday.
3Where did most cancellations occur during the strike?
Frankfurt airport, Lufthansa's largest hub, recorded 426 flight cancellations from an original schedule of 1,168.
4Why did the pilots go on strike?
The pilots, represented by the VC union, went on strike over pension issues and were waiting for a negotiable offer from Lufthansa.
5How did the strike impact Lufthansa cargo operations?
Lufthansa managed to maintain 80% of its cargo flights during the pilot strike, as per the airline's announcement.
