Lufthansa Group strikes spark calls for improved working conditions

The pilots’ union Aeropers, representing Swiss International Air Lines crews, is pressing the Lufthansa subsidiary for modern, competitive working conditions. Aeropers points to Swiss’s recent operating profit of about 189 million Swiss francs, ongoing pilot shortages, reliance on wet‑lease aircraft and frequent flight cancellations as evidence that current contracts are inadequate. The union cites the recently concluded tariff deal at Edelweiss as a possible model and urges that the current negotiations address these issues to secure long‑term staffing stability.

At the same time, a wave of strikes by pilots and cabin‑crew across the Lufthansa Group has disrupted operations at major German hubs such as Frankfurt and Munich. Thousands of flights have been cancelled or delayed, affecting tens of thousands of passengers. Under EU law and a 2021 European Court of Justice ruling, travelers are entitled to compensation of up to €600, free re‑booking or refunds, and assistance such as meals and accommodation when flights are cancelled or delayed more than five hours.