Passengers traveling with Lufthansa in the days following Christmas could encounter flight disruptions, the airline’s principal cabin‑crew union, UFO, warned on 24 December. The union indicated that industrial action might resume as early as 27 December, once the temporary Christmas cease‑fire ends.
The warning follows a four‑hour arbitration session in Frankfurt on 22 December that ended without an agreement. Both parties issued only a brief acknowledgment that “no solution” had been reached and did not release a joint statement. The dispute, which dates back to early 2019, centres on three core demands from UFO: a retroactive 1.8 percent wage increase effective from January, pension adjustments that keep pace with inflation, and formal recognition of the union’s current leadership.
Lufthansa has refused to negotiate with the board elected in April, arguing that the ballot was irregular and that a court decision had already nullified the result. Instead, the carrier continues to recognize a rival cabin‑crew group that split from UFO in 2018, a move UFO describes as an attempt to weaken its membership.
UFO’s chief negotiator, Nicoley Baublies, told reporters on 24 December, “Even though we have agreed not to disclose the contents of these talks, unfortunately we must state that there was no solution … so we failed.” He added that another round of industrial action “must be expected again any time soon” once the holiday truce lifts. The union represents roughly two‑thirds of Lufthansa’s 22,000 flight attendants, meaning a strike could affect a substantial portion of the airline’s operations.
This threat follows UFO’s first strikes since 2015, which took place on 6 and 7 November at Lufthansa’s main hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. Those walkouts forced the cancellation of 1,300 flights and left about 180,000 passengers stranded, costing the airline an estimated €15 million in direct revenue loss.
While the November action lasted two days, it demonstrated the union’s capacity to cause significant disruption. With the Christmas truce set to expire, a similar scenario could unfold during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, when many travelers are returning home after Christmas or embarking on New Year’s trips. Lufthansa has not provided further comment on the breakdown of talks, nor indicated whether it is prepared to re‑enter negotiations.
UFO has not announced a specific strike date but has made clear that action could commence as soon as the truce ends. The crux of the conflict remains the issue of recognition.
Without formal acknowledgment of UFO’s elected board, the union argues it cannot negotiate binding contracts. The rival group recognized by Lufthansa, a splinter faction formed in 2018, continues to claim representation of cabin crew, though UFO maintains it still represents the majority. For passengers, the immediate concern is the possibility of further cancellations during a peak travel window.
The November strike left 180,000 travelers without flights; a repeat during the holiday season could prove even more disruptive. Both sides remain entrenched: the union seeks recognition and the agreed‑upon pay rise, while Lufthansa insists on dealing with the rival organization.
As of now, no resolution appears imminent, leaving travelers to await further developments.
