Following failed wage negotiations and a ballot with 99 percent approval, a pilots' strike looms at Lufthansa subsidiary Cityline. Travelers should prepare for potential flight disruptions at hubs Frankfurt and Munich. The restructuring involving new Lufthansa City Airlines may lead to confusion.
Wage negotiations for annual 3.3 percent increases from 2024 to 2026 at Lufthansa Cityline have failed. The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union requested a ballot, with 95 percent participation. On February 26, 2024, 99 percent voted yes to support the Group-Tarifkommission in all steps, including strikes. "The result shows the great unity of Cityline pilots," said VC President Andreas Pinheiro.
Lufthansa Cityline, a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, operates regional flights with about 30 aircraft of types Airbus A319, Bombardier CRJ900, and Airbus A321P2F. It uses the LH code and feeds passengers to hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. A strike could disrupt connections to the USA or Asia.
Meanwhile, the Lufthansa Group is restructuring: Lufthansa City Airlines, founded in 2022, is gradually taking over Cityline's tasks. Operational since June 26, 2024, it conducted around 16,000 flights in 2025 with two million passengers to 27 destinations. It uses the VL code and operates under its own economic risk. From February 9, 2026, it will start in Frankfurt with routes to Manchester, Berlin, and others.
For travelers, little changes: Bookings are via lufthansa.com, and service remains the same. Differences matter during strikes—check the operating carrier. Airlines notify via email or app about cancellations. Travelers are entitled to rebooking, refunds, meals, and compensation up to 600 euros under EU law, as strikes are not extraordinary circumstances. Domestic flights can be switched to Deutsche Bahn. The UFO cabin crew union already held a warning strike on February 12.