Lufthansa faces renewed strike threats as cabin crew overwhelmingly back industrial action, with over 94% support at the main airline and nearly unanimous approval at CityLine. This comes just hours after the company claimed disputes were resolved, raising the risk of major flight disruptions across its network.
Frankfurt –— A fresh labor dispute is unfolding at Lufthansa after cabin crew overwhelmingly voted in favor of strike action, just hours after the airline’s public relations team announced that conflicts had been resolved.
Earlier today, Lufthansa representatives told international media that ongoing labor disputes had come to an end and that agreements had been reached. However, the situation took a dramatic turn when the Independent Flight Attendants Organization (UFO) revealed the results of a strike ballot among cabin staff.
According to the union, 94.02 percent of participating cabin crew at Lufthansa’s core brand voted in favor of industrial action, while support at its regional subsidiary CityLine reached an even higher 98.63 percent. Particularly striking, the union noted, was that not a single CityLine participant voted “no,” underscoring the depth of employee dissatisfaction.
The vote comes despite recent progress in negotiations with ground staff, where Lufthansa successfully reached a collective bargaining agreement. In contrast, talks with cabin crew appear to have stalled, raising the likelihood of significant disruptions.
Sara Grubisic, Deputy Chairwoman and Head of Collective Bargaining at UFO, warned that patience among employees is running thin. “If the employer continues to delay or chooses confrontation, it is clear that cabin crews across both operations are ready to take the next steps,” she said. “The results of this ballot give us the necessary momentum.”
UFO – The union for the cabin
UFO – The union for the cabin
The dispute follows earlier coordinated strike action in mid-February, when both pilots and cabin crew walked out on the same day. Lufthansa was forced to cancel around 800 flights, affecting nearly 100,000 passengers.
With tensions escalating again, travelers now face the prospect of further widespread cancellations and delays in the coming days if negotiations fail to progress.