Lufthansa flight attendants opt for early retirement on a voluntary basis

Lufthansa Offers Voluntary Retirement to Older Flight Attendants

In a bid to address the personnel surplus caused by the COVID-19 crisis, Lufthansa has extended a voluntary retirement offer to approximately 2,000 of its long-serving flight attendants. The offer, which expires at the end of October, is part of the company's efforts to encourage younger employees to take voluntary redundancy with one-time payments.

Thomas Faust, the Human Resources leader at Lufthansa, has been the driving force behind this initiative. He aims to help the airline reduce a significant portion of the cabin crew surplus and pave the way for a younger workforce.

The offer extends to flight attendants aged 55 and above, who will be given the option to transition into the company's pension scheme earlier than planned. Those who choose this option will receive roughly half of their last payments until they reach the earliest retirement age. Lufthansa has also committed to fully covering the loss of pension supplements due to early retirement.

In some cases, employees may even receive more than half of their last payments due to early retirement. This is a generous offer that reflects Lufthansa's commitment to its long-serving staff, even as it navigates the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic.

It's important to note that around 3,000 out of the 21,000 flight attendant positions are set to be cut. While this is a significant reduction, Lufthansa hopes that this voluntary retirement scheme will help to minimise the impact on its dedicated workforce.

As the aviation industry continues to grapple with the effects of COVID-19, Lufthansa's move to offer voluntary retirement to its older flight attendants marks a bold step towards a more sustainable and youthful workforce. The company's commitment to its employees, both old and new, is a testament to its resilience and adaptability in these challenging times.

(Image: A Lufthansa aircraft at the airport)