Lufthansa strike on March 12 and 13: many flights disrupted

Passengers flying with Lufthansa this week should prepare for major disruption. Pilots of the German airline will go on strike on Thursday 12 March and Friday 13 March, which leads to widespread cancellations and delays.

Travellers whose flights are affected are entitled to compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004 if they arrive at their final destination more than three hours late.

Right to compensation for Lufthansa flight disruptions

If your flight is cancelled or arrives more than three hours late, you are entitled to financial compensation. Because this is an internal strike by airline staff, airlines usually cannot classify the disruption as an extraordinary circumstance. That means Lufthansa may still be required to compensate passengers.

The compensation amount depends on the flight distance:

• €250 for flights up to 1,500 km
• €400 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km
• €600 for flights over 3,500 km

If your flight has been affected by the strike, you can submit your claim through EUclaim. We operate on a no cure, no pay basis, meaning you only pay if we successfully obtain compensation.

Practical information for passengers

The strike has been announced by the pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit and will take place from 00:01 on March 12 until 23:59 on March 13.

The action mainly affects Lufthansa flights departing from German airports, including major hubs such as Frankfurt and Munich. Cargo flights operated by Lufthansa Cargo are also expected to be impacted.

Lufthansa says it is working to limit the disruption by operating flights through other airlines within the Lufthansa Group and partner airlines. Passengers whose flights are cancelled may usually:

• rebook free of charge on another flight, or
• request a full refund of their ticket.

The airline advises travellers to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport and ensure their contact details in the booking are up to date. For cancelled domestic flights, passengers may in some cases exchange their ticket for a train journey with Deutsche Bahn.

Why are Lufthansa pilots going on strike?

The strike stems from an ongoing dispute between Lufthansa and the pilots’ union over pension contributions and retirement benefits. Pilots argue that the current pension scheme does not provide sufficient security for their future income and want Lufthansa to increase its financial contributions.

According to the union, negotiations have been ongoing for months but have failed to produce an acceptable offer. The strike is intended to put additional pressure on Lufthansa to improve pension conditions.

Is your Lufthansa flight on March 12 or 13 delayed or cancelled due to the strike? You may be entitled to compensation of up to €600 per passenger. Check your flight and submit your claim easily through EUclaim.