Lufthansa passengers are bracing for significant travel disruption tomorrow, February 12, 2026. A 24-hour strike involving both pilots and cabin crew unions is set to impact flights across the airline's mainline, regional, and cargo operations. Travelers should expect widespread cancellations and delays.
Key Takeaways
- Lufthansa pilots and cabin crew will strike for 24 hours on February 12, 2026.
- The strike affects all Lufthansa flights departing from German airports.
- Pilots are striking over pension scheme disputes, while cabin crew demand a collective social plan.
- Lufthansa has partnered with Deutsche Bahn for domestic flight cancellations.
- Both passenger and cargo flights will experience disruption.
Widespread Impact on Lufthansa Operations
The industrial action begins at 12:01 am and concludes at 11:59 pm local time tomorrow. This means all Lufthansa flights originating from German airports during this period are at risk. The airline has warned passengers about potential disruptions to their travel plans.
To mitigate some of the impact, Lufthansa has arranged an agreement with Deutsche Bahn, Germany's national rail operator. This allows passengers with canceled domestic Lufthansa flights, or flights between Germany and Basel, to exchange their flight tickets for train tickets free of charge. However, many international and non-covered domestic routes will not have this alternative.
Strike Details
- Duration: 24 hours (12:01 am - 11:59 pm local time)
- Date: February 12, 2026
- Affected Operations: Lufthansa mainline, regional (CityLine), and cargo
- Impact: All flights departing from German airports
Pilots Strike Over Pension Scheme Disputes
The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) trade union, representing Lufthansa pilots, announced the strike with short notice. Their primary demand centers on improvements to company pension schemes. Negotiations with Lufthansa regarding pilot pension plans have been ongoing since May 2025, with seven rounds of talks failing to reach a resolution.
The VC union specifically objects to a capital market-financed pension model introduced in 2017. They state this new model provides a significantly lower pension level compared to the previous scheme, which offered guaranteed payouts. For pilots, the company pension scheme is a crucial part of their retirement security.
"The company pension scheme is a crucial component of retirement security for pilots," stated the Vereinigung Cockpit union regarding their motivations for the strike.
The strike will not only affect passenger flights but also Lufthansa Cargo operations. Pilots flying specialist freight aircraft, such as the Boeing 777F, are also participating in the industrial action. This broad impact highlights the extent of the dispute.
Background on Pilot Negotiations
Negotiations between the VC union and Lufthansa began in May 2025. The core issue revolves around the shift from a traditional, guaranteed pension scheme to a capital market-financed model in 2017. Pilots argue the newer system offers less security and lower payouts, prompting the demand for improvements.
Cabin Crew Also Join Industrial Action
Adding to the operational challenges, the UFO union, representing flight attendants, has also called for a 24-hour strike. This action affects both Lufthansa mainline and its regional arm, Lufthansa CityLine. The reason for the cabin crew strike is the employer’s refusal to negotiate a collective social plan amidst the planned shutdown of CityLine operations.
The combined strikes mean that regional traffic will also be severely affected. Major Lufthansa hubs across Germany are expected to experience significant disruption. Airports likely to be impacted include Berlin (BER), Bremen (BRE), Cologne (CGN), Düsseldorf (DUS), Frankfurt (FRA), Hamburg (HAM), Hanover (HAJ), Munich (MUC), and Stuttgart (STR).
Key Cabin Crew Demands
- Negotiation of a collective social plan
- Concerns over the planned shutdown of Lufthansa CityLine operations
According to UFO, a substantial 98.33% of its Lufthansa CityLine members voted in favor of taking strike action. This strong mandate underscores the depth of dissatisfaction among the cabin crew regarding their employment conditions and future.
Lufthansa Group previously reported that related strikes cost the company approximately $375 million in the first quarter of the year. Despite these challenges, the airline group still projects a positive summer and year-end performance, planning to increase its capacity year-on-year.
Travel Advice for Affected Passengers
Lufthansa is currently reviewing the full impact on its flight schedule. Passengers with flights scheduled for tomorrow, February 12, 2026, are strongly advised to check the status of their flights directly on the Lufthansa website or through their booking agent before traveling to the airport. Travelers may also consider alternative arrangements for their journeys, especially if their routes are not covered by the Deutsche Bahn agreement.
The short notice of these strikes is likely to compound the operational challenges and passenger inconvenience. The unions involved are placing responsibility on the employer to present a satisfactory offer to resolve these long-standing disputes.
