Three parallel mediation procedures involving Lufthansa Group and Vereinigung Cockpit have ended without a final agreement, leaving disputes at Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo, Eurowings and CityLine unresolved. The failed process covers German flight operations and leaves the group facing a potential renewal of pilot conflict in 2027, although no industrial action has been scheduled.
VC informed its members that no results were available and that none of the procedures had produced a concluding settlement. The parties’ negotiating positions remained too far apart for the mediators to issue proposals, according to an internal union memo.
Attention now shifts to a broader mediation covering both collective-bargaining and strategic issues. The talks include pensions, transitional arrangements, pay, future fleet size at Lufthansa’s core airline, pilot career prospects and crew productivity. The process is due to continue until 15 November.
If it also fails, Lufthansa and VC may have no agreed solution to several disputes affecting the core airline, cargo operations and subsidiaries. A time limit in a key collective agreement adds pressure to the negotiations and could allow the conflict to escalate next year. The current developments do not indicate that strikes are imminent.