As reported by Handelsblatt, more than 1,000 pilots covered by the collective agreements of Lufthansa Classic and Lufthansa Cargo are currently aged over 55, of whom most are captains, raising concerns about the group’s ability to replace experienced crew in the coming years.

Vereinigung Cockpit, the Pilots’ Union, estimates that around 740 pilots could leave the company between 2029 and 2034 after reaching retirement age, with a further 300 departures expected this year and next.

Recruited trainees

The recruitment and training are not currently keeping pace with those projected losses.

In recent years, an average of only around 78 candidates have been trained to become captains each year, compared with approximately 150 annually during the strongest training years before the pandemic.

Lufthansa itself reportedly expects around 100 pilots to leave its main airline brand each year, according to information Handelsblatt obtained.

Increased demand

The pressure is also being felt elsewhere in the group, as Lufthansa City Airlines is expanding its fleet by roughly one aircraft a month, with each new aircraft requiring around five captains and five first officers, further increasing demand for qualified cockpit crew across the group.

One possible solution would be to extend the collective agreement covering Lufthansa’s mainline operations to other flying operations.

In addition, Handelsblatt reports that doing so would be difficult from an employment perspective and could prove unattractive because of the higher salary conditions associated with the agreement.

Mediation process

Against this backdrop, Lufthansa management and its pilots are relying on a mediation process agreed recently.

Until that process is completed, the Lufthansa Classic fleet is not expected to be reduced.

However, group chief executive Carsten Spohr has previously made further expansion of the airline’s main brand conditional on reducing costs, adding another challenge as Lufthansa attempts to balance growth with its future staffing requirements.