Finance
Lufthansa pilots to go on strike but exempt middle east flights
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 10, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 10, 2026
Quick Summary
Lufthansa pilots, backed by the VC union, will strike for two days starting March 12 over pension disputes, while flights to more than a dozen Middle Eastern nations will not be affected.
Lufthansa Pilots Announce Two-Day Strike, Exempting Middle East Flights
Details and Impact of the Lufthansa Pilots' Strike
Background of the Dispute
FRANKFURT, March 10 (Reuters) - Lufthansa pilots will stage a two-day strike from Thursday in a dispute over pensions but will exempt flights to specified countries in the Middle East "in light of the current situation" there, pilots union VC said.
Pilots are in conflict with Lufthansa's core airline and its cargo division over pensions. The union declared readiness to strike after a ballot last year to pressure the company into granting more generous retirement benefits. Intermittent talks have taken place since then without success.
Union's Perspective
"We would have very much liked to avoid further escalation," VC President Andreas Pinheiro said in a statement on Tuesday. "But there is still no offer on the table. It's no use if the other side only signals a willingness to talk but refuses to discuss substantial improvements to the company pension scheme."
Scope and Schedule of the Strike
The strike will affect flights operated by Lufthansa Cargo AG and Lufthansa passenger flights departing from German airports between 00:01 on March 12 and 23:59 on March 13.
Exempted Middle East Destinations
The strike exempted flights to Egypt, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, the statement said.
Previous Strike Actions
During previous strike action last month, Lufthansa said it had affected passengers "extremely harshly and disproportionately".
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach; writing by Matthias Williams; editing by Susan Fenton)
Key Takeaways
- •The two‑day strike, from 00:01 March 12 to 23:59 March 13, will impact both Lufthansa passenger and cargo flights departing German airports, excluding routes to specified Middle Eastern countries.
- •The conflict centers on pension reform—pilots argue that Lufthansa shifted to a defined‑contribution scheme in 2017 that reduced retirement security; the union is demanding substantial contribution increases, which the airline says it cannot afford.
- •This follows a similar 24‑hour strike on February 12 that led to nearly 800 flight cancellations and affected around 100,000 passengers, underscoring the high stakes in ongoing, unresolved negotiations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lufthansa pilots to go on strike but exempt Middle East flights
1When will the Lufthansa pilots' strike take place?
The two-day strike by Lufthansa pilots will occur from 00:01 on March 12 to 23:59 on March 13.
2Why are Lufthansa pilots going on strike?
Lufthansa pilots are striking due to a dispute with the company over pension schemes and retirement benefits.
3Which flights are exempt from the Lufthansa strike?
Flights to Egypt, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are exempt.
4Which Lufthansa divisions are affected by the strike?
The strike affects both Lufthansa's core airline and its cargo division, Lufthansa Cargo AG.
5What triggered the escalation of the Lufthansa strike action?
Prolonged unsuccessful negotiations over company pension schemes triggered the escalation to strike action.
