BERLIN (Reuters) – Lufthansa hopes to recoup its strike-related losses in the second half of the year, the German airline said on Tuesday, highlighting a strong summer season and bookings up 16% from last year. ‘last year.
The airline confirmed its forecast of adjusted earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of 2.2 billion euros for the full year, revised downwards two weeks ago following a wave of costly union actions.
The carrier warned that second-quarter profits would still be lower than a year earlier but estimated second-half operating profit was expected to be higher than a year earlier.
Savings measures are planned at Lufthansa Airlines, the main brand, to stem heavy losses due to strikes, Lufthansa said.
“We are now leaving behind the first quarter, which was mainly affected by strikes, and we are at a turning point,” said CEO Carsten Spohr.
“Our planes are still very full. One thing is already clear: the summer will still be very strong,” he added.
However, given the drop in capacity in the first half of the year, the group now expects a slower return to pre-crisis levels, changing its capacity forecast for 2024 to 92%, from 94% previously.
(Reporting Rachel More; French version Mathias de Rozario, edited by Blandine Hénault)
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