Lufthansa pay deal vows no pilot strikes before June 2023

A pay deal struck last week between German airline Lufthansa and its pilots may only amount to a ceasefire in the labour negotiations until June next year, according to information released on Monday, reported dpa.

The agreement includes significant salary increases, but also leaves some outstanding issues to be negotiated, with a deadline of June 30 2023, the company and the Vereinigung Cockpit trade union reported.

Until then, there will be no further pilot strikes, according to the agreement.

The approximately 5,000 pilots at Lufthansa's core airline and its cargo subsidiary Lufthansa Cargo will receive across-the-board increases in their basic monthly pay.

Retroactively from August 1, 2022 and again on April 1, 2023, pay across the scale will go up by €490 gross.

For those early in their career and with lower salaries, this means double-digit percentage increases, for example about 20% for young co-pilots.

Union expert Marcel Gröls described the increases as "gratifying."

"We are currently setting a good course at Lufthansa," he said.