A week after mainline Lufthansa crews paralysed hubs in Frankfurt and Munich, the carrier’s regional subsidiary CityLine now faces its own labour showdown. The pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) confirmed on Tuesday that it has requested an immediate strike ballot among roughly 450 cockpit crew after pay talks collapsed. If members vote ‘yes’—a result expected within days—industrial action could start before month-end.
CityLine operates more than 300 daily services with Embraer and CRJ aircraft, feeding Lufthansa’s intercontinental network and connecting second-tier German cities to Europe’s capitals. Business travellers favour the airline’s high-frequency morning rotations between hubs such as Düsseldorf-Munich and Hanover-Frankfurt; any walkout would force Lufthansa Group to wet-lease capacity or rebook passengers onto rail.
The dispute centres on VC’s demand for three consecutive 3.3 percent salary increases covering 2024-2026. Management insists that any rise be offset by productivity concessions, a formula the union labels a “zero-sum proposal.” Tensions are heightened by Lufthansa’s plan to wind down CityLine next year and migrate regional flying to the new subsidiary City Airlines. Although the company claims fleet reallocation is unrelated to the wage round, pilots fear a ‘race to the bottom’ on pay scales under a fresh AOC.
![Lufthansa CityLine Pilots Seek Strike Mandate, Putting German Domestic Links at Risk]()
From a mobility-management perspective, HR teams should ready contingency plans for project travellers relying on same-day German turnarounds and check intermodal alternatives such as Deutsche Bahn’s high-speed ICE network. International assignees transiting Frankfurt may also be affected if feeder flights cancel at short notice. Travel buyers are advised to monitor VC’s ballot timeline and maintain up-to-date traveller contact lists for rapid re-booking.
Should travellers or expatriates need to adjust itineraries across borders at short notice, VisaHQ can streamline any visa or entry-document updates that become necessary. The company’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) offers fast processing for German and other Schengen visas, real-time status tracking, and dedicated support—especially helpful when alternative routings or extended stays are required because of strike-related disruptions.
The looming action comes as Germany heads into the peak trade-fair season, with the Hannover Messe and ITB Berlin both opening in March. Any prolonged disruption could dent exhibitor attendance and cargo uplift, adding financial pressure on Europe’s largest airline group.
CityLine operates more than 300 daily services with Embraer and CRJ aircraft, feeding Lufthansa’s intercontinental network and connecting second-tier German cities to Europe’s capitals. Business travellers favour the airline’s high-frequency morning rotations between hubs such as Düsseldorf-Munich and Hanover-Frankfurt; any walkout would force Lufthansa Group to wet-lease capacity or rebook passengers onto rail.
The dispute centres on VC’s demand for three consecutive 3.3 percent salary increases covering 2024-2026. Management insists that any rise be offset by productivity concessions, a formula the union labels a “zero-sum proposal.” Tensions are heightened by Lufthansa’s plan to wind down CityLine next year and migrate regional flying to the new subsidiary City Airlines. Although the company claims fleet reallocation is unrelated to the wage round, pilots fear a ‘race to the bottom’ on pay scales under a fresh AOC.
From a mobility-management perspective, HR teams should ready contingency plans for project travellers relying on same-day German turnarounds and check intermodal alternatives such as Deutsche Bahn’s high-speed ICE network. International assignees transiting Frankfurt may also be affected if feeder flights cancel at short notice. Travel buyers are advised to monitor VC’s ballot timeline and maintain up-to-date traveller contact lists for rapid re-booking.
Should travellers or expatriates need to adjust itineraries across borders at short notice, VisaHQ can streamline any visa or entry-document updates that become necessary. The company’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) offers fast processing for German and other Schengen visas, real-time status tracking, and dedicated support—especially helpful when alternative routings or extended stays are required because of strike-related disruptions.
The looming action comes as Germany heads into the peak trade-fair season, with the Hannover Messe and ITB Berlin both opening in March. Any prolonged disruption could dent exhibitor attendance and cargo uplift, adding financial pressure on Europe’s largest airline group.
