German carrier Lufthansa looks to strong summer to shake off strike costs

Lufthansa hopes to claw back its strike-related losses in the second half of the year, the German flag carrier said on Tuesday, pointing to a strong summer season with bookings up 16 per cent compared with the previous year.

The first quarter is often a loss-making one for airlines, with fewer bookings. However, Lufthansa’s losses have been compounded by ongoing strikes in Germany, which cost the group 350 million euros in the first quarter.