Lufthansa pilots are planning a 24-hour strike on Thursday due to pension disputes.

Investing.com – German Lufthansa pilots are planning a 24-hour strike on Thursday, which could ground hundreds of flights, disrupt travel, and put pressure on the airline’s profit targets.

The strike, announced by the Cockpit union, will begin at 12:01 a.m. on February 12 and last until 11:59 p.m., affecting all flights departing from German airports. The strike was initiated after negotiations between the union and management over retirement pension funds broke down.

This is the first pilot strike at Lufthansa Group since 2022, bringing new challenges to Europe’s largest airline group. The company is already dealing with aircraft delivery delays, high taxes, and issues related to the launch of its premium Allegris cabins.

Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr is implementing a strategy to improve profitability by consolidating hub airlines and cutting 4,000 administrative jobs.

Past pilot strikes have proven costly for airlines. Strikes in 2014 and 2016 disrupted thousands of commercial flights, costing Lufthansa Group hundreds of millions of euros.

The current dispute centers on pension contributions. Negotiations broke down last year, leading to a strike vote in September. The union is pushing for the company to increase contributions to the pension plan, while Lufthansa Group has stated its ability to raise payments is limited.

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