Lufthansa and pilot union agree to arbitration

Lufthansa and the pilots' union, Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), have agreed to enter a comprehensive arbitration process to resolve ongoing collective bargaining disputes. The agreement covers several Lufthansa subsidiaries, including Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa Cityline, and Eurowings. The negotiations will be supported by mediation and include defined exit options for both parties.

The dispute primarily concerns salary and pension issues, though it also touches on the company's strategy to shift crews and aircraft to subsidiaries with lower tariff regulations. Previous industrial actions by the VC this year included seven strike days, which Lufthansa estimated cost the company approximately 150 million euros.

In April, the regional subsidiary Lufthansa Cityline was suspended, resulting in the cancellation of roughly 20,000 summer flights. While Lufthansa has confirmed the principle of the agreement, specific details remain confidential.