Lufthansa unter Druck: Personalplanung und Servicequalität in der Kritik

Personnel Planning Under Scrutiny

The flight attendants‘ union Ufo has sharply criticized Lufthansa’s personnel planning for the upcoming summer months. Ufo Vice Chair Sara Grubisic expressed concern about potential negative impacts on passengers. „Staff shortages can lead to flight schedules not being adhered to, connections being missed, or flights being canceled at short notice,“ she warned, noting that the airline’s premium promise does not align with the current personnel planning.

Lufthansa’s Rebuttal

Lufthansa has firmly rejected the allegations. A company spokesperson emphasized that they are well-prepared for the summer and can implement the flight schedule with the usual quality. However, this optimistic assessment contrasts with the union’s concerns, which describes the situation as tense.

Situation at the Regional Company Cityline

A central point of criticism is the decision to suspend the regional company Cityline in April. Grubisic pointed out that around 800 cabin crew members are left without employment or are in uncertain transitional situations. „With the shutdown of Cityline, the flight program was shifted to Lufthansa without having the corresponding staff in place. It is already evident: This calculation does not add up,“ said the union representative.

Calls for Volunteers and Overload

Ufo also warns that operations continue to be pushed to the limit. Protective mechanisms against overload are being relaxed in the short term, and personnel reserves are being further depleted. The call for voluntary registrations for the entire month of June highlights the tense situation, which also calls into question the quality of onboard service. Long-haul flights could be operated with reduced crew, potentially impacting the passenger experience.

Focus on Safety Standards

Lufthansa also disputes this assessment, emphasizing that all flights are operated with crews whose numbers always exceed the minimum requirements of the European Aviation Safety Agency EASA. Additionally, a new onboard service was introduced last month, which has been successfully launched and received positive feedback. These developments raise the question of how personnel planning will affect shareholder value and Lufthansa’s competitiveness in the long term, especially in a market that increasingly prioritizes quality and reliability.