Lufthansa strike: Do pilots really need to get more pensions, Mr. Pinheiro?

Lufthansa pilots receive a pension of up to 8,400 euros. Now they are on strike because they want to push through more pension provision. The president of the Cockpit Association explains why.

March 12, 2026, 4:50 p.m

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Article summary

Andreas Pinheiro is leading a two-day strike by Lufthansa pilots to demand improvements to pension benefits. The Cockpit union is demanding, among other things, a wage increase of three percent per year. Pinheiro criticizes the fact that the return on company pension schemes does not meet expectations and calls for the payments to be adjusted. Despite Lufthansa’s restructuring program, he sees room for improvement and emphasizes the solidarity of the striking pilots. Strike participation is high and the pilots are showing determination to push through their demands.

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Andreas Pinheiro has been President of the Cockpit Association since 2024. The union is on strike at Lufthansa flight operations until Friday night.

THE TIME: Mr. Pinheiro, for the second time in four weeks you are calling on your members to go on a two-day strike. Why?

Andreas Pinheiro: At the core brand Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo, we are calling for an improvement in pilots’ retirement provision. So far we have not received any offer from the employer that is even remotely negotiable. At Lufthansa Cityline we are striking for a tariff increase. Among other things, we are demanding three percent more salary per year. There is an offer from the company here, but it comes with an absolute obligation to keep peace. This means: We are not allowed to strike for any other collective agreement until the end of the collective remuneration agreement. We’re not going with that.