A Lufthansa spokesperson criticized the short-notice announcements and warned the disruption would affect passengers, urging unions to resume dialogue; affected passengers will be notified automatically.

Lufthansa is recruiting for City Airlines in Frankfurt, with dozens hired and hundreds more planned, totaling around 450 staff for the new venture.

Munich Airport impacts were not yet detailed; authorities expected a clearer picture after reviewing flight plans in the evening.

CityLine operations across major German cities will be affected, including Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Bremen, Stuttgart, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Berlin, and Hanover.

A double strike by Lufthansa pilots (VC) and cabin crew (UFO) is planned, targeting pension contributions, social plan terms for CityLine, and changes to the main collective agreement to prevent perceived downgrades in working conditions.

Both unions are calling for a day-long stoppage on Thursday, leading to widespread cancellations and delays as Lufthansa negotiates in its 100th anniversary year.

The situation is fluid and updates will be provided as new information becomes available.

Travelers should monitor official airline channels for schedule updates, consider rebooking, and review EU passenger rights for refunds or compensation if applicable.

Impacts include numerous cancellations and delays, potential airport congestion, disrupted connections, and longer processing times for refunds.

The strike offers travelers opportunities to use alternative routes or nearby non-German airports and highlights the value of travel insurance during disruptions.

The coordinated strike is expected to shut down or heavily disrupt flights across Germany, including cargo operations, with all departures from German airports affected on the strike day.

Lufthansa CEO aims to improve margins through hub consolidation and cutting about 4,000 administrative roles as part of broader cost-saving measures.