(Frankfurt) Lufthansa pilots have won pay hikes of more than 17% in total, ending a months-long price dispute with the airline group’s management and the threat of strikes, unions and management said Thursday.

“We have reached a compromise result after a year and a half of negotiations,” announced the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union, welcoming an agreement valid until the end of 2026.

“The tariff agreement creates operational stability, reliability for customers and additional planning security for Lufthansa Airlines in the years to come,” the group said in a separate statement.

“From an economic point of view, this outcome is not easy for us,” said Lufthansa, however, which agreed to raise the salaries of some 5,200 pilots by a total of 17% over three years. Added to this is a one-off payment of 3.75% of the annual fixed salary, capped at 3,000 euros, and an improvement in variable compensation based on company performance.

The pilots had gone on strike on September 2, 2022, and Lufthansa, Europe’s largest carrier, had to cancel almost all of its flights that day. The two parties have since negotiated for a lasting tariff agreement.

Nearly 95% of pilots who are members of the union have taken part in the consultation organized since the beginning of August, according to Vereinigung Cockpit, the only pilots’ organization, and 65.5% voted in favor of the agreement.

After two years of crisis linked to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lufthansa has returned to the green and expects to achieve one of the best results in its history this year.

During the health crisis, the carrier owed its salvation only to public aid which is now reimbursed.

Inflation in Germany fell slightly in July, to 6.2% year on year, but remains particularly high compared to the European average and the European Central Bank’s 2% target.