Frankfurt airport strike: cancelled flights and your rights
At Frankfurt, Lufthansa's largest hub, strikes come in turn from Lufthansa's own staff, the aviation-security staff at the checkpoints and Fraport's employees. Who strikes decides what you are owed: a refund or another flight and care every time, compensation of €250 to €600 only when your airline's own staff strike.
Last updated: October 16, 2026
Airkarma handles claims under EU Regulation 261/2004: flights departing from the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland, and flights into those countries on a European airline. Flights departing from the United Kingdom fall under UK261, which we do not handle yet.
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Upcoming strikes at Frankfurt airport
As of 16 October 2026, no strike is announced at Frankfurt airport. The aviation-security pay agreement expires on 31 December 2026; talks began in September, the ver.di and dbb unions rejected the first offer, and the next round is on 21 October 2026. Warning strikes at the checkpoints are therefore possible from January 2027. Lufthansa and the pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit have been in arbitration since August 2026, and the public-sector agreement for Fraport staff runs until 31 March 2027.
Who works at Frankfurt airport, and who can strike
The operator is Fraport. Since 1 January 2023 Fraport, rather than the Federal Police, has been responsible for passenger screening, which it contracts to FraSec, I-SEC and Securitas; their staff fall under the private aviation-security agreement. Fraport's own ground services come under the public-sector agreement. Frankfurt is Lufthansa's largest hub and the base of Condor and Discover.
Recent strikes at Frankfurt airport
- 10 to 17 April 2026: six strike days in eight at Lufthansa, alternating between cabin crew (UFO) and pilots (Vereinigung Cockpit); 580 flights were cancelled at Frankfurt on 10 April, and 656 of 1,313 movements on 16 April.
- 12 and 13 March 2026: a Lufthansa pilot strike; according to Fraport about 400 of 1,165 and about 450 of 1,225 flights cancelled.
- 12 February 2026: Lufthansa pilots and cabin crew strike together; about 450 flights cancelled at Frankfurt.
- 10 March 2025: a ver.di warning strike at Fraport and in aviation security; almost all 1,116 scheduled flights cancelled, about 150,000 passengers affected.
- 7 March 2024: aviation-security and Lufthansa ground staff strike on the same day; about 650 of 1,170 flights cancelled and no boarding possible.
- 1 February 2024: an aviation-security warning strike; no boarding possible, over 300 flights cancelled by midday.
Why strikes in Germany come at such short notice
Germany has no statutory notice period and no statutory minimum service for airport strikes; strike law is made by the courts. Emergency services are agreed between the parties, as at Fraport in March 2025. In practice ver.di announced its warning strikes about two and a half days ahead, and the Lufthansa pilots' and cabin crew unions in 2026 often only 30 to 48 hours ahead.
Strike in Frankfurt: when compensation is owed
If your airline's own staff strike, such as Lufthansa pilots or cabin crew in 2026, that is not an extraordinary circumstance (Court of Justice of the European Union, Airhelp v SAS, C-28/20, 2021): compensation of €250 to €600 is generally owed if you learned of the cancellation less than 14 days before departure, or arrived 3 hours or more late. From Frankfurt, long-haul flights over 3,500 km carry €600.
If a third party strikes, such as aviation-security staff or Fraport employees, the fixed compensation is generally not owed. The airline must still offer a refund or another flight, and meals, drinks and, if needed, a hotel.
Where to complain
First claim compensation from the airline in writing. If it refuses or does not answer, you can ask for free conciliation: with the Schlichtungsstelle Reise & Verkehr, formerly söp, if the airline is a member, as Lufthansa, Lufthansa City Airlines, Eurowings, Discover, Condor, SWISS, Austrian, Ryanair and easyJet are; otherwise with the aviation conciliation body at the Federal Office of Justice. The Federal Aviation Office (LBA) can fine airlines but does not enforce individual passengers' claims.
Frequently asked questions
Lufthansa cancelled my flight from Frankfurt because of a cabin crew strike. Am I owed compensation?
As a rule yes, if you were told less than 14 days before departure: a strike by the airline's own staff is not an extraordinary circumstance. The amount depends on distance: €250, €400 or €600 per passenger.
I could not board because of the security checkpoint strike. What am I owed?
Aviation-security staff are a third party, so the fixed compensation is generally not owed. If your flight was cancelled, you are owed a refund or another flight, and care.
On the day of my flight both security staff and Lufthansa staff were on strike. Who is responsible?
It is for the airline to show: it must prove the cancellation was caused by the third party's strike and not by its own staff's. If it cannot, you are generally owed compensation.
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Official sources
The texts this page is based on: