Lufthansa Reaches Pay Deal with Pilots, Ending Lengthy and Bitter Dispute

A Lufthansa Airbus A330 in Munich

Lufthansa German Airlines said Wednesday it had accepted the recommendations of a mediator in a pay dispute with the union representing its pilots, ending several years of strikes by members of Vereinigung Cockpit that cost the airline dearly.

The deal calls for an 8.7% pay increase for some 5,400 pilots. The new agreement will be in place through the end of 2019.

The pay raise is subject to ratification by the union’s members, said Vereinigung Cockpit spokesman Markus Wahl in a statement.

Lufthansa said it will staff 40 new planes with employees not covered by the agreement in order to make up the cost of the increase.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)