Lufthansa Cabin Crew Strike Grounds Hundreds of Flights in Munich and Frankfurt
Munich, Bavaria, Germany – A comprehensive strike by Lufthansa cabin crew on Friday, April 10, 2026, has led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights at major German airports, including Munich and Frankfurt. The industrial action, called by the independent flight attendant union Ufo, began at 00:01 and is scheduled to last until 22:00.
The strike affects all Lufthansa AG departures from Frankfurt and Munich airports, key hubs for the airline. Additionally, Lufthansa CityLine departures from Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Bremen, Stuttgart, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Berlin, and Hanover are also impacted.
Significant Impact on Munich Airport
Munich Airport is particularly affected, with approximately 400 of the originally planned 500 Lufthansa departures cancelled. A spokesperson for the airport confirmed the extensive cancellations in response to an inquiry from BR24. Lufthansa, however, has refrained from providing exact figures, citing the continuously evolving situation.
Nuremberg Airport has also reported disruptions, with all flights between Nuremberg and Frankfurt cancelled in both directions. This includes the first flight on Saturday morning at 06:00.
Lufthansa has announced efforts to mitigate the impact through a special flight schedule, including the deployment of other subsidiary airlines and larger aircraft where possible.
Easter Holiday Travel Disrupted
The strike coincides with the end of the Easter holidays, significantly impacting passengers returning home. Joachim Vázquez Bürger, chairman of the Ufo union, acknowledged the inconvenience but emphasized the union’s deliberate decision to avoid industrial action during the holiday period itself. He stated, “We consciously excluded the Easter holidays from industrial action to keep the impact on travellers as low as possible. We are very aware that there may now be disruptions to the return journey from the holidays, and we expressly regret this.”
Vázquez Bürger placed responsibility on Lufthansa, asserting that the strike could have been avoided if the airline had presented a negotiable offer. In late March, cabin staff at Lufthansa’s core company and its regional subsidiary CityLine overwhelmingly voted in favour of industrial action, with approximately 94 percent at the core company and nearly 99 percent at CityLine supporting the strike.
Lufthansa Urges Resumption of Talks
Lufthansa has called for a resumption of negotiations, stating that sustainable solutions can only be found through dialogue and that strikes should always be a last resort. The airline expressed regret that the renewed strike call by Ufo is particularly affecting passengers amidst the return travel at the end of the Easter holidays. Customers whose flights are affected will be automatically notified.
The dispute centers on collective bargaining for the general collective agreement at Lufthansa and, according to Ufo, the company’s unwillingness to negotiate a social collective agreement for CityLine. This agreement is crucial for approximately 800 employees, as CityLine’s flight operations are scheduled to cease next year, to be replaced by a new company, Lufthansa City Airlines. A social plan, including severance payments, aims to cushion the impact on employees.
Passenger Rights During the Strike
According to experts, passengers whose flights are cancelled less than 14 days before the scheduled departure are entitled to rebooking or a full refund of the ticket price. Additionally, the EU Passenger Rights Regulation provides for compensation ranging from 250 to 600 euros, depending on the flight route. This regulation applies in the current strike scenario because Lufthansa is considered responsible for the cancellations due to an internal collective bargaining dispute, which is not classified as an ‘extraordinary circumstance’ beyond the airline’s control.
In cases where passengers are stranded at the airport, they are also entitled to assistance, which may include drinks, meals, and, depending on the delay, overnight accommodation or transport to lodging if a hotel is not within walking distance.
