More than 96% of Lufthansa flight attendants who took part in a strike vote have approved a walkout in a continuing dispute over pay and conditions that is set to bring even more industrial turmoil to the German flag carrier.
The airline is already in the midst of a two-day walkout by airport employees, which has grounded around nine in ten flights, but Lufthansa is now also facing the threat of an extensive cabin crew strike if it can’t come to an agreement with the UFO flight attendant union.
The union announced on Wednesday that 96.28% of members who took part in the vote had authorized strike action, although the union is yet to confirm whether any walkouts will actually go ahead.
Following the decision to ballot its members, Lufthansa negotiators have been trying to reach an agreement with the UFO, although the two sides remain far apart on some issues.
Most contentious is the UFO’s demand for an immediate pay increase of 15%, whereas Lufthansa is currently only willing to offer a 9.25% rise, which wouldn’t take full effect until August 2025.
On Thursday, Lufthansa posted its first-best financial result in its history, reporting a profit of €2.7 billion across its group portfolio, although the airline warned that continuing strike action was taking its toll and despite strong demand, profits for 2024 would broadly be in line with 2023.
Lufthansa’s chief human resources officer, Dr Michael Niggemann, hit out at the Verdi union, which represents ground staff, accusing the union of “damaging our guests, the company and ultimately our employees”.
“Verdi must suspend strike action and be prepared to enter into constructive negotiations without preconditions,” Niggemann continued.
Niggemann insisted that pay raises offered by the airline were “above average” and that the carrier had to take into account the “fierce” competition it was facing from international airlines.
