Barely 24% of Lufthansa Group pilots would recommend their profession today, while 66% advise against pursuing a career in it. The figure comes from an internal survey conducted by the opinion research institute Forsa for the German union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), in which nearly 2,700 technical crew members from Lufthansa Airlines, Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa CityLine and Eurowings took part.
“If only one in four pilots would recommend the profession, that is a warning sign not just for Lufthansa but for the entire industry,” said Oliver Löwe, a member of Vereinigung Cockpit’s executive board. The survey, conducted virtually between June and July, showed that 47% of respondents perceive a worsening in their professional situation over recent years, compared with 27% who identified improvements.
The assessment varies according to the age group of the staff. Professionals under 35 showed a more favorable outlook on their career evolution, while those over 45 mostly pointed to a deterioration in their working conditions. Lack of recognition, distrust of management, the perceived treatment from corporate leadership and flight schedule planning rank among the main reasons for complaint expressed by members.
The concern is particularly pronounced among Lufthansa CityLine staff, which ceased operations in April, compounded by the lack of internal growth options within the group. “The survey shows very clearly that colleagues are not primarily talking about specific pay issues. Above all, they want security, respect and appreciation from corporate leadership. That is exactly what they lack from the perspective of many employees,” Löwe stressed.
In collective bargaining, the company pension plan emerged as the top priority for technical crews. “The company pension plan is a central demand for a large number of colleagues. Anyone who wants to understand the current conflict must take note of this reality,” the union executive said.
The report also showed that 70% of respondents are willing to support a strike call by the union if the collective bargaining conflict escalates. At the same time, 71% said pilots’ interests differ from those of cabin and ground staff, so they back dedicated union representation for flight deck crews. “The high willingness to strike demonstrates the strong cohesion of our members and broad support for the course taken. It makes clear that pilots are ready to defend fair working conditions together,” Löwe concluded.