Germany is bracing for a major air travel meltdown as Lufthansa pilots and cabin crew prepare to stage a coordinated 24-hour strike that will hit some of Europe’s busiest hubs on Thursday, 12 February 2026. The walkout, which unions say will run from just after midnight until 23:59 local time, is expected to ground or severely disrupt thousands of flights, with Frankfurt and Munich at the epicentre of the chaos. For travellers, it marks one of the most serious interruptions to German aviation since the pandemic era, with ripple effects likely to spread across Europe, North America, Asia and beyond.
What Travellers Need To Know About Thursday’s Strike
The strike will affect virtually all flights operated by Lufthansa’s mainline brand departing from German airports during the 24-hour period, alongside significant disruption at its cargo arm and regional operations. Frankfurt Airport, the airline’s primary global hub, and Munich Airport, its key southern gateway, are expected to bear the brunt of cancellations and delays as crew walk off the job in a dispute over pensions and job security. Aviation analysts warn that the concentration of long-haul and connecting traffic at these hubs means the impact will not be limited to Germany alone.
Unions representing around 4,800 pilots and thousands of flight attendants have called the walkout after months of negotiations with Lufthansa management failed to produce a compromise. Talks over better employer pension contributions for pilots and a social plan and job guarantees for cabin crew at Lufthansa CityLine, a regional subsidiary slated for closure, have stalled. With no breakthrough in sight, union leaders say a dramatic show of force is the only remaining option to put pressure on the airline ahead of the busy late-winter travel period.
The strike is scheduled to run from 00:01 to 23:59 on Thursday, which in practice means disruption will begin hours earlier as Lufthansa reshapes its schedule and positions aircraft and crew. Passengers travelling late on Wednesday and early on Friday should also be prepared for knock-on delays and missed connections as operations slowly return to normal. Lufthansa has already begun cancelling services and rebooking customers, but the scale of the action means many travellers will struggle to find alternative options on such short notice.
German and European air passenger rights rules will apply in full, obliging Lufthansa to offer re-routing or refunds and, in many cases, care such as meals and accommodation. However, as past strikes have shown, the sheer number of affected passengers can quickly overwhelm even the best-prepared customer service systems. Travellers are being strongly advised to monitor their booking status closely, update their contact details with the airline and arrive at airports only once they have a confirmed alternative itinerary.
Frankfurt And Munich: Europe’s Hubs Under Siege
Frankfurt Airport, home to one of Europe’s largest intercontinental networks, is expected to resemble a giant holding pattern on the ground on Thursday. As Lufthansa’s principal hub, Frankfurt is the linchpin of hundreds of daily connections between Europe and key markets in North America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. A large proportion of those flights will be cancelled or heavily delayed as cockpit and cabin crew honour the strike call. With so many passengers relying on tight connections through Frankfurt, even a partial shutdown can cascade into missed flights across multiple continents.
Munich, Germany’s second-largest hub and a major transfer point for southern and eastern Europe, will see a similar scenario. While the airport will remain open, reduced schedules and sudden cancellations are likely to cause long queues at rebooking counters and information desks. Previous strikes have shown that passengers on early morning departures are especially vulnerable, as overnight disruptions leave aircraft and crews out of position. Travellers flying from Munich to popular winter destinations such as Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey could face last-minute cancellations and longer-than-expected layovers.
Lufthansa CityLine, which operates a dense web of regional flights feeding both hubs from cities such as Hamburg, Bremen, Stuttgart, Berlin and Hanover, will also be heavily affected. The union representing cabin crew at CityLine has called for a full-day walkout to protest against the planned closure of the carrier’s flight operations and the uncertainty facing roughly 800 employees. These cancellations will further erode the connectivity of Frankfurt and Munich, cutting off smaller German and near-border airports from the long-haul network on which many travellers rely.
The airports themselves are gearing up for a stressful day. Airport operators in Frankfurt and Munich have warned passengers to expect crowded terminals, possible bottlenecks at security and check-in, and confusion as revised departure boards constantly update. Although ground handling staff and air traffic controllers are not part of this strike, the pressure on airport infrastructure from stranded and re-routed passengers will be significant. Many travellers may find that waiting areas, airport hotels and even nearby train services are stretched to capacity.
Behind The Walkout: Pensions, Jobs And Post-Pandemic Pressures
The immediate trigger for Thursday’s strike lies in two intertwined labour disputes. On the pilots’ side, the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union is demanding higher employer contributions to occupational pensions, arguing that after seven rounds of negotiations Lufthansa has failed to address long-standing concerns over retirement security. According to union estimates, the proposed pension contribution increase would translate into significantly higher annual costs for the airline, a price management has so far refused to pay in full.
Lufthansa’s leadership counters that while it recognises the contribution of pilots and crew, it must also safeguard the group’s financial stability in a challenging operating environment. The airline is still working to consolidate a fragile recovery from the pandemic, which left global aviation with deep losses and heavy debt burdens. Executives argue that sharply higher pension obligations could compromise investment in fleet renewal, digitalisation and sustainability initiatives, as well as limit the company’s ability to respond to economic downturns or fuel price shocks.
Parallel to the pilot dispute, the UFO union, which represents flight attendants, is fighting on a different but related front. Its primary focus is the future of Lufthansa CityLine, where management has announced plans to shut down flight operations entirely as part of a strategic restructuring. For around 800 cabin crew, the threat is not just reduced benefits but the potential loss of their jobs. UFO is demanding a binding social plan that would secure severance terms, retraining opportunities and, where possible, transfers into other parts of the Lufthansa Group.
These conflicts are emblematic of broader tensions within the global airline industry as it emerges from the pandemic era. Workers who accepted wage freezes, reduced hours or temporary layoffs during the crisis are now seeking compensation for years of strain and rising inflation. Airlines, meanwhile, face intense competition, volatile fuel prices and regulatory pressure to decarbonise, all while trying to rebuild balance sheets. In this environment, disputes that might once have been resolved behind closed doors are increasingly escalating into high-profile strikes that directly affect passengers.
How Many Flights And Passengers Are Likely To Be Affected
Exact figures are still shifting as Lufthansa updates its schedules, but industry observers expect hundreds, and potentially well over a thousand, flights to be cancelled or significantly delayed over the course of Thursday. The airline has begun pre-emptive cancellations to provide at least some clarity to passengers in advance, but given the size of its network, particularly in Frankfurt and Munich, the final tally of disrupted services is likely to be substantial.
Similar 24-hour walkouts in previous years have led to the grounding of a majority of Lufthansa’s departures on strike days. With both cockpit and cabin crew involved this time, and with regional operations at CityLine also in the firing line, the disruption could be even more extensive. Domestic routes within Germany and short-haul services across Europe will be hard hit, while long-haul flights to North America and Asia may be thinned out, retimed or consolidated where crew are available. Cargo operations, often relied upon by industries such as automotive and pharmaceuticals, will also be curtailed.
For passengers, the numbers are sobering. Tens of thousands are likely to see their travel plans upended, with some estimates suggesting far more could be indirectly affected through missed connections and schedule changes. Business travellers heading to trade fairs and corporate meetings, leisure travellers bound for ski resorts or city breaks, and those connecting via Germany to destinations further afield all face uncertainty. Families and tourists planning long-awaited post-pandemic holidays may find themselves scrambling for last-minute alternatives.
The knock-on effects will not be limited to Lufthansa’s own customers. Partner airlines within the Star Alliance network could also see disruptions as codeshare flights are cancelled and joint itineraries are rebooked. Other carriers operating into Frankfurt and Munich may experience increased loads as stranded passengers try to switch airlines, leading to fewer available seats and higher last-minute fares. That in turn risks spreading the travel headache far beyond Germany’s borders.
What Impact Will This Have On Germany’s Tourism And Business Travel
The timing of the strike is particularly painful for Germany’s tourism and business sectors. Mid February sits within a busy winter travel window, with many European schools still on holiday and ski resorts in the Alps approaching their seasonal peak. For inbound visitors, Germany serves not only as a destination in its own right but also as a vital transit point to neighbouring countries. A major disruption at Lufthansa risks undermining confidence among travellers and international tour operators who depend on reliable hub connections.
Hotels in Frankfurt and Munich are likely to see a complex pattern of demand. Some guests will cancel their stays as flights are scrapped, while others will need last-minute rooms after being stranded by missed connections. Conference centres, trade show organisers and business venues could also face last minute no-shows, posing headaches for event planners. While a single 24-hour strike is unlikely to derail the broader tourism season on its own, a perception of repeated industrial unrest can push corporate travel buyers and tour companies to look for alternative hubs.
German tourism authorities will be watching closely to assess the medium-term impact. Germany has been working to sustain its reputation as a dependable gateway into Europe, competing with airports such as Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Zurich. Recurrent strikes risk eroding that competitive edge. For multinational companies that rely on smooth air links to their German headquarters or manufacturing plants, the current dispute could feed into boardroom discussions about contingency planning and risk diversification.
In the longer run, the strike also underscores the delicate balance between fair labour conditions and the cost competitiveness that underpins mass tourism. Higher labour and pension costs can translate into higher ticket prices or reduced frequencies, which in turn affect how easily destinations can be reached. For now, the immediate concern is simply getting travellers where they need to go on a day when much of Lufthansa’s schedule will be on pause.
What To Do If You Are Booked On Lufthansa This Week
Passengers with Lufthansa tickets for Thursday, 12 February 2026, or for journeys that connect through Germany around that date, should take proactive steps as soon as possible. The first priority is to check the status of your flight using the airline’s official channels or mobile app and ensure that your contact details, including mobile number and email, are up to date. Lufthansa has pledged to inform customers directly if their service is cancelled and to offer rebooking options where space is available.
If your flight is cancelled, you will generally be entitled to a choice between re-routing at the earliest opportunity or a refund of the ticket. Re-routing may include travel on partner airlines or, for domestic routes within Germany, by rail with Deutsche Bahn. Tickets can often be transferred to rail at no extra cost, an option that may be faster and more comfortable than trying to secure one of the limited remaining seats on alternative flights. For short distances between German cities, rail is likely to be the most practical back-up plan.
Travellers who must reach their destination on a specific date, for example to attend a wedding, funeral or critical business meeting, should consider contacting Lufthansa or their travel agent immediately to explore rebooking possibilities either before or after the strike window. Flexibility with departure airports, routings and times can significantly improve your chances of finding an acceptable alternative. If your journey involves connections beyond Germany, factoring in extra time for potential delays is highly advisable.
Those already en route or stranded at the airport during the strike should keep all receipts for meals, accommodation and alternative transport, as these may be relevant in later claims for reimbursement under European air passenger rights regulations. It is also sensible to carry essential items, including medications, in hand luggage rather than checked bags in case you are unexpectedly forced to overnight away from home. Patience will be in short supply, but a calm and informed approach can help you navigate what promises to be an exceptionally challenging day for German aviation.
Part Of A Wider Wave Of Travel Disruptions
The Lufthansa strike does not occur in isolation. It comes amid a broader wave of industrial action and operational strain affecting airlines and airports across Europe and beyond in early 2026. Recent and ongoing disputes in countries including Italy, France, Belgium and New Zealand have led to a patchwork of cancellations, delays and schedule changes that can catch travellers off guard. For international visitors, it can feel as though no route is entirely immune from disruption.
Several common themes run through these disputes: inflation driven by higher living costs, pressure on airlines to deliver shareholder returns after the pandemic, and a workforce that feels stretched after years of intensive rostering and staffing shortages. At the same time, demand for travel has rebounded strongly, with leisure and business bookings climbing back toward or even beyond 2019 levels on many routes. When that surging demand meets constrained capacity and labour unrest, the result is a fragile system where any shock can lead to outsized disruption.
For travellers, the lesson is increasingly clear. Building extra flexibility into itineraries is no longer an optional luxury but a practical necessity. Booking slightly longer connection times, avoiding last minute changes, and having a Plan B in mind for critical journeys can make a significant difference when strikes or other operational issues arise. Travel insurance policies that cover strikes and schedule disruptions are also worth a closer look, especially for complex or high value itineraries.
As for Lufthansa and its workforce, much will depend on what happens once Thursday’s strike is over. Both sides have signalled a willingness to return to the negotiating table, but the tone and outcome of those talks will be closely watched by the wider aviation industry. If a compromise can be reached that addresses workers’ concerns without undermining the airline’s financial health, it may serve as a template for other carriers facing similar pressures. Until then, passengers, airports and tourism stakeholders across Germany and beyond must brace for a day in which the skies over Frankfurt and Munich will be far quieter than usual.