Ryanair and Lufthansa face union criticism over closures

The pilot union Cockpit has accused Ryanair of targeted union-busting following the decision to close its Berlin base. The union claims the closure, announced shortly after a legal victory for the works council, aims to weaken employee representation. Cockpit also reported that several members of its collective bargaining commission faced termination during ongoing negotiations. Ryanair has rejected these allegations, stating the decision was driven solely by rising costs, high airport fees, and security charges at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER).

Separately, Cockpit is criticizing Lufthansa regarding the closure of its subsidiary, Lufthansa Cityline. The union has condemned the company’s approach to employee transitions, describing the pressure to accept severance packages without adequate social compensation as a “fatal signal.” While negotiations for the newer subsidiary Lufthansa City Airlines reached an agreement with the Verdi union regarding pension options, broader arbitration between Lufthansa and Cockpit for core brand pilots and Lufthansa Cargo has ended without a resolution.