Germany Grounds Flights as Lufthansa Strike Hits Major Hubs

Lufthansa cancelled hundreds of flights across Germany on 12 February after pilots and cabin crew staged a coordinated 24-hour strike over pensions and job security. The walkout began shortly after midnight and ran through the evening, disrupting departures nationwide. Major hubs including Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin were among the hardest hit, with widespread cancellations across both short- and long-haul services.

The industrial action involved around 4,800 pilots represented by Vereinigung Cockpit and approximately 20,000 cabin crew from the Independent Flight Attendants Organisation. Lufthansa Cargo and regional subsidiary CityLine were also affected. While the airline did not disclose the total number of cancelled flights, it confirmed that operations were expected to return to normal from 13 February, once the strike period ended.

Other airlines within the Lufthansa Group, including Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, Eurowings and Discover, were not part of the strike and continued operating throughout the day. Carriers outside the group, such as Ryanair, easyJet and Condor, also flew as scheduled. Lufthansa said affected passengers were rebooked automatically where possible and advised travellers to monitor flight status closely.

What travellers could still rely on

During the strike, domestic passengers were able to exchange Lufthansa tickets for Deutsche Bahn rail services free of charge, helping limit disruption on key internal routes. Airports stayed open, while airlines outside the Lufthansa Group continued operating scheduled services. Some travellers were able to continue their trips by switching to rail services or using nearby airports not affected by the strike.

The strike is a reminder of how quickly labour disputes can affect travel in Europe’s busiest aviation markets. For passengers impacted on 12 February, understanding airline policies and passenger rights mattered as much as tracking flight updates. Because this was a company strike, EU passenger rules remained in force, allowing travellers to seek rebooking, refunds or compensation even when plans changed at short notice.