Germany’s flag carrier Lufthansa could soon face a new pilots’ strike after members of the Vereinigung Cockpit union overwhelmingly supported the option of industrial action over a disputed pension plan. According to AeroTime News, negotiations that stretched over seven rounds failed to produce an agreement, leading the union to announce the results of a vote among Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo pilots on September 30, 2025.
As many as 90 percent of Lufthansa pilots took part in the ballot, with 88 percent supporting the proposal of the collective bargaining committee. At Lufthansa Cargo, turnout reached 95 percent, with an even higher 96 percent backing the union leadership. Union president Andreas Pinheiro said the outcome clearly demonstrated unity among members and sent a strong signal to management.
The vote grants the union the authority to initiate all necessary measures, including strike action, should talks fail to progress. Balloting opened on September 12 after negotiations collapsed over what the union described as “huge differences regarding the corporate pension plan.” Arne Karstens, spokesperson for the bargaining committee, stressed that pension rights form the foundation of every pilot’s life planning and that they expect Lufthansa to present an acceptable proposal.
As AeroTime News reports, the collective bargaining committee was established in 2023 to unify the interests of all pilots within the Lufthansa Group. It could now play a key role in the forthcoming industrial actions that may significantly affect operations at one of Europe’s largest airlines.
