Lufthansa Strike on 12 and 13 March 2026 – Passengers Are Entitled to Compensation

The Lufthansa pilot strike on 12 and 13 March 2026 is set to cause widespread flight cancellations from all major German airports. Pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) has called a 48-hour strike affecting Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa CityLine. Because this is a strike by the airline's own staff, affected passengers are legally entitled to compensation of up to €600 per person under EU Regulation 261/2004.

When is the Lufthansa strike and who is taking part?

The strike runs from 00:01 on Thursday 12 March until 23:59 on Friday 13 March 2026. The following parts of the Lufthansa Group are affected:

• Lufthansa Passenger Airlines: striking on both 12 and 13 March, for all flights departing from Germany.
• Lufthansa Cargo: striking on both 12 and 13 March, for cargo flights departing from Germany.
• Lufthansa CityLine: striking on 12 March only.

The following Lufthansa Group airlines are not affected by the strike and will operate as normal: Austrian Airlines, SWISS, Eurowings, Air Dolomiti, Discover Airlines, Edelweiss and Lufthansa City Airlines.

Why are Lufthansa pilots striking?

Vereinigung Cockpit — representing more than 5,000 pilots — has called the strike following the breakdown of negotiations on two separate issues.

At Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo, the dispute centres on the company pension scheme. Pilots are demanding higher employer contributions, arguing that inflation and cost-cutting programmes have significantly undermined their retirement security. VC President Andreas Pinheiro has stated that Lufthansa has yet to put a concrete, negotiable proposal on the table.

At Lufthansa CityLine, a separate dispute concerns the pay of cockpit crew based in Germany. Negotiations have been ongoing since August 2025 without meaningful progress. An offer made by management on 25 February was rejected — partly because it was tied to an absolute no-strike clause.

Which flights are affected?

Lufthansa expects 80 to 90 per cent of all scheduled flights on 12 and 13 March to be cancelled. Do not travel to the airport without first checking your flight status on lufthansa.com.

Exception: flights to the Middle East

In light of ongoing geopolitical instability and the need to maintain repatriation flights, Vereinigung Cockpit has chosen to exempt flights to the following 13 destinations from the strike: Egypt, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Lufthansa says it is working to rebook as many passengers as possible onto flights operated by other airlines within the Lufthansa Group or by partner carriers. Affected passengers are expected to be contacted by email on Wednesday 11 March around midday with information about their options.

Your right to compensation under EU261

Unlike a national trade union strike — such as the Belgian strike taking place on the same day — a strike by Lufthansa's own staff does not qualify as an extraordinary circumstance under established European case law. This means Lufthansa is legally required to pay flight compensation for cancelled and significantly delayed flights.

Compensation amounts are:

• €250 for flights up to 1,500 km
• €400 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km
• €600 for flights over 3,500 km

You are entitled to compensation if your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before departure, if you arrived at your final destination more than 3 hours late, or if you were denied boarding.

In addition to compensation, Lufthansa is obliged to offer you a rebooking onto an alternative flight or a full refund of your ticket. If you face a long wait at the airport, you are also entitled to meals, refreshments and — where an overnight stay is required — hotel accommodation and transport.

What should you do now?

1. Check your flight status on lufthansa.com before heading to the airport. Lufthansa's revised schedules are expected to be published on Wednesday 11 March.
2. Make sure your contact details are up to date in your booking so Lufthansa can reach you with rebooking information.
3. Booked through a travel agent? Contact your travel agent directly for rebooking options.
4. Keep all receipts for any additional expenses such as meals, hotel stays or transport — these are recoverable.
5. Submit your compensation claim via Flight-Delayed.com. We handle your claim on a no win, no fee basis.

Background: a deepening dispute

This is not the first time Lufthansa pilots have walked out in recent months. On 12 February 2026, a one-day warning strike resulted in around 800 cancelled flights and an estimated 130,000 passengers being stranded. The 48-hour strike now called is a direct escalation following the continued absence of a serious proposal from Lufthansa management.

Lufthansa expects to largely return to its normal schedule from Saturday 14 March 2026 onwards.

FAQ – Lufthansa Strike Compensation

Am I entitled to compensation for the Lufthansa strike?

Yes. A strike by Lufthansa's own staff is not classified as an extraordinary circumstance under EU law, which means Lufthansa is required to pay compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004.

How much compensation can I claim?

Between €250 and €600 per passenger, depending on the distance of your flight.

Which flights are not affected by the strike?

Flights operated by Austrian Airlines, SWISS, Eurowings, Air Dolomiti, Discover Airlines, Edelweiss and Lufthansa City Airlines will operate as normal. Lufthansa flights to the 13 listed Middle East destinations are also exempt.

My flight has been cancelled — should I go to the airport?

No. Check your flight status on lufthansa.com first and wait for communication from Lufthansa before travelling to the airport.

Does EU261 apply to flights from the UK?

EU261 applies to all flights departing from an EU airport, and to flights arriving in the EU operated by an EU carrier such as Lufthansa. For flights departing from the UK, UK261 — which mirrors EU261 — applies.

When will Lufthansa return to its normal schedule?

Lufthansa expects to largely resume its regular flight schedule from Saturday 14 March 2026.