Lufthansa and Pilot Union Agree to Long-Awaited Deal

Lufthansa and the German pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit have officially inked a new deal to avert any further 2022 pilot strikes.

Lufthansa said it has signed onto an agreement that will increase basic pay for Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo pilots and will avert any strikes from the pilots union until June 30, 2023. The agreement, which is still subject to approval by both parties, benefits entry-level pilots, in particular, who will see a 20% increase in their pay.

"We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Vereinigung Cockpit. The increase in basic salary with uniform base amounts leads to the desired higher proportional increase in entry-level salaries. We now want to use the next few months in a trusting dialogue with Vereinigung Cockpit to find and implement sustainable solutions. The common goal is to continue to offer our pilots attractive and secure jobs with prospects for further development going forward,” Michael Niggemann, Chief Human Resources Officer and Labor Director of the Deutsche Lufthansa AG, said.

Previous strikes by the union have caused significant disruptions for Lufthansa passengers, including days where 800-plus flights were canceled at some major German hubs including Munich and Frankfurt.