Lufthansa confirms projected 2014 operating result of €1bn profit in spite of strikes

Lufthansa Group posts nine-month operating profit of €849m and confirms projected full-year operating profit of €1bn. The Lufthansa Group remains confident of achieving its profit targets for 2014 – despite experiencing a difficult third quarter, and despite strike action eroding €170m from its earnings results. The Group expects to post an operating profit of around €1bn for the year, excluding the impact of any further strike action between now and year-end. The projection has been strengthened by favorable results for the first nine months: the Lufthansa Group achieved an operating profit of around €849m for January-to-September 2014, a €186 million improvement on the same period last year. Adjusted for non-recurring restructuring and project costs, this represents an operating profit of some €1bn for the first-nine-month period. Third-quarter operating profit amounted to €735m, up €45m on the prior-year period.