Lufthansa employee strike extends until Thursday and cancels flights to São Paulo and Rio

The strike by pilots and flight attendants at Lufthansa will continue at least until Thursday, April 16, 2026, affecting a large part of the flights of the main airline at Alemanha. The strike led to the cancellation of several international routes, including departures and arrivals to São Paulo and Rio from Janeiro. Esta is the fourth interruption in the company’s operations this year. The labor movement aims to press for improvements in employee pension and remuneration conditions. Operations in the main German hubs, such as Frankfurt and Munique, were significantly impacted, causing disruption to thousands of passengers around the world.

Flights to Brasil canceled

The airport of Frankfurt, which serves as the main operations center of Lufthansa on Alemanha, announced, on the morning of last Tuesday (14), the suspension of flight LH 500, bound for Rio of Janeiro. The aircraft was scheduled to take off at 10:15 pm local time, corresponding to 6:15 pm in Brasília. Outro The impacted flight was LH 506, which would leave at 10:05 pm (6:05 pm in Brasília) bound for São Paulo; this section was canceled on both Tuesday and Wednesday (15). Estas suspensions added complexity to the situation of Brazilian passengers who planned to travel to or from Lufthansa0, forcing them to look for alternatives or postpone their commitments.

The airport terminal at Frankfurt also reported the cancellation of three flights that originated at Brasil and would arrive at Alemanha on Thursday (16). Entre they were flight LH 50, departing from Rio of Janeiro, which was scheduled to arrive at Frankfurt at 8:35 am German time, and flight LH 507, coming from São Paulo, whose arrival was estimated at 10:45 am Friday (17). Ambos the routes had already been subject to changes and cancellations on Monday (13), marking the beginning of the current wave of strikes that hit Lufthansa’s operations. Brasil2 from this location.

Details of the strike and demands

The current strike, the fourth faced by the airline in 2026, involves both pilots and flight attendants. Segundo the VC pilots union, the strike had a more severe impact on Lufthansa operations compared to the previous strike, which took place in March. Enquanto the March movement resulted in 80% of flight cancellations, the current strike caused an interruption of 84% of the company’s operations. The pilots are demanding significant improvements in pension conditions, in addition to adjustments in the remuneration of their workers. Essas demands are at the heart of the labor dispute that has led to recurring strikes.

The category of flight attendants, in turn, announced their adherence to the strike specifically for this Wednesday and Thursday. Este group of employees had already interrupted their work the previous Friday, signaling continued dissatisfaction with the company’s proposals. Além of the main Lufthansa, flights of Eurowings, a low-cost subsidiary of the company, were also affected by the shutdown. However, the forecast is that Eurowings’s operations would return to normal on Tuesday. The DPA news agency reported that between Monday and Tuesday, more than 1,100 flights were canceled at Frankfurt airport alone and at least 710 at Munique, underlining the vast scale of the disruption.

Alternatives for affected passengers

Lufthansa implemented a series of measures to minimize the inconvenience caused to passengers whose travels were impacted by the strike. The airline has committed to offering flexible options for those whose bookings have been affected. Travelers should pay close attention to company communications to understand the options available in each individual case.

Key alternatives and recommendations include:

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• Free rebooking:Passageiros of Lufthansa (including regional subsidiaries Cityline, Austrian, Swiss, Brussels Airlines or Air Dolomiti) with reservations between April 13th and 16th can reschedule their trips. Rebooking is free and must be made to another flight Grupo Lufthansa with a date prior to April 23, 2026, using Lufthansa Help Center.
• Refund Request:The option to request a full ticket refund is available to passengers before the scheduled date of travel. The process must be carried out through the company’s Help & Contact Center.
• Automatic redial:In case of flight cancellation, Lufthansa undertakes to automatically rebook the ticket for another flight. Passengers will be informed about the new booking through their registered mobile number.
• Train tickets:The company also offers the conversion of airline tickets into Deutsche Bahn train tickets for those passengers whose flights were canceled and who were unable to find viable flight alternatives. Esta option aims to facilitate land travel within Alemanha to nearby destinations.
• Digital channels:Devido Due to the large volume of people affected and the consequent increase in waiting times for telephone assistance, Lufthansa advises its customers to prioritize digital services for any emergency or request. The company’s website and applications are the most efficient channels for obtaining information and managing reservations during this period.

Economic impact and criticism of the movement

The continuation of the strike has generated severe criticism from sector associations and the management of Lufthansa itself, who warn of the financial and operational consequences. Associação Alemã of Aeroportos (ADV) expressed deep concern about the strike. The entity declared that “thousands of canceled flights lead, in a short space of time, to losses of millions of euros, with direct impacts on airport operators, service providers and workers”. Esta statement highlights the scope of the damage, which goes far beyond the airline, affecting the entire aviation value chain.

Michael Niggemann, director of human resources at Lufthansa, also issued a public warning to unions. Ele emphasized that each day of strike represents a weakening for the airline, which already operates in a competitive environment and under constant economic pressure. The company’s management has argued that the frequent shutdowns compromise Lufthansa’s ability to invest in improvements, maintain competitiveness and, ultimately, protect its employees’ jobs in the long term. The salary and benefits dispute is seen by both sides as crucial, but the consequences of the impasse are increasingly palpable for the air transport economy.

Recent outage history

The current strike is not an isolated event, but rather part of a pattern of labor disputes that have marked Lufthansa’s operations throughout 2026. The company had already faced three other strikes this year before the wave of strikes that began last Monday. The frequency of these movements reflects a persistent tension between the company’s management and the different categories of workers, who seek better working conditions and remuneration amid a scenario of recovery and challenges for the global airline sector.

The previous strike in March also had a significant impact, resulting in the cancellation of 80% of flights. The company’s ability to maintain its operations and service level has been constantly tested by these events. Negotiations between Lufthansa and the unions have been complex, with difficulties in reaching an agreement that meets the expectations of both parties. Este cycle of interruptions raises questions about the future stability of the company’s operations and the long-term impact on its image and finances.