Lufthansa Pilots Back Strike Action in Response to Pension Proposals

Pilots from Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo have expressed their support for potential strike action regarding pension negotiations with the airline.

On September 30, 2025, the Cockpit Association, which represents around 10,000 pilots from all German airlines, announced it received significant backing for the next steps in this ongoing dispute.

A notable 90% of Lufthansa’s pilots participated in the vote, with 88% endorsing the collective bargaining committee. Furthermore, 95% of Lufthansa Cargo pilots voted, with a remarkable 96% in favor of the mandate.

“The result is a strong signal of the unity of our members. The pilots clearly stand behind the demands and their collective bargaining committee,” remarked Andreas Pinheiro, President of the Cockpit Association. “We thank everyone who cast their vote.”

Voting commenced on September 12, 2025, after the two parties failed to reach an agreement following seven rounds of discussions.

The Cockpit Association highlighted that considerable differences regarding the company pension plan were the main sticking points in negotiations.

Arne Karstens, the spokesperson for the collective bargaining committee, stated: “Retirement provision is a central foundation of life planning for pilots – at least as important as the statutory pension. We now expect Lufthansa to take the signals from its workforce seriously and finally present a negotiable offer for company pension provision.”

Following the vote, the union now has the authorization to “initiate all necessary measures, including industrial action if necessary.”

The Cockpit Association established the collective bargaining commission in 2023 to unify the interests of all pilots within the Lufthansa Group across various flight operations.

AeroTime has reached out to Lufthansa for comments regarding the situation.

What do you think the next steps should be for both parties involved?