Lufthansa pilot talks end without agreement, but broader mediation continues

Lufthansa and the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots' union ended formal talks without an agreement on pay and workplace pensions.

The talks began in late August and involved about 5,000 pilots at Lufthansa's main airline and cargo subsidiary.

A broader mediation is still under way, including discussions about the airline group's strategy and working conditions across its businesses.

Lufthansa has shifted aircraft and crews to subsidiaries with lower pay and employment terms, a key source of tension with the union.

Pilots are not expected to strike soon, but the risk would rise if the wider talks also fail.

The mediators have offered to take part in those talks, but no timetable has been given.

Separately, Verdi reached a pension agreement with Lufthansa City Airlines, but it does not settle the pilots' union's demands.