UK Airports Hit as Lufthansa Strike Cancels Hundreds of Flights

UK airports have been directly affected by widespread flight cancellations linked to a 24-hour strike across Lufthansa Group operations. Hundreds of European flights were pulled at short notice, disrupting travel for thousands of British passengers. Germany’s airport association ADV estimates more than 460 services were cancelled across the network, impacting around 70,000 passengers during a busy midweek travel period.

Although Lufthansa has not published its own cancellation figures, the scale of disruption on UK routes is becoming clearer. Sun Travel identified at least 14 services between Frankfurt Airport and the UK cancelled in a single day. Lufthansa usually deploys aircraft carrying between 150 and 180 passengers on these routes, pointing to several thousand travellers affected by sudden schedule changes.

UK airports hit by cancellations

• London Heathrow: 10 flights to Frankfurt or Munich cancelled
• Birmingham: 1 flight to Munich and 1 to Frankfurt cancelled
• Manchester: 2 flights to Frankfurt cancelled

The strike covers both Lufthansa mainline flights and short-haul carrier CityLine, adding pressure at Frankfurt, the group’s largest hub and a key connection point for UK-bound services.

The industrial action was called by German pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit in a dispute over retirement benefits. Lufthansa criticised the timing, calling the strike "extremely short-notice" and warning of a heavy impact on customers. The airline said it remains open to talks and confirmed that affected passengers would be contacted directly about changes to their bookings.

Some travellers are rerouting via other European hubs or switching to rail travel within Germany, while others are delaying trips or choosing closer destinations until schedules stabilise. The disruption shows that strike action at major continental hubs can quickly affect UK routes, forcing travellers to adjust plans and look for alternatives when travelling around Europe.