{
  "id": 328077,
  "title": "Lufthansa Profit Plunges, Ticket Prices Set to Climb Further",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/lufthansa-profit-plunges-ticket-prices-set-to-climb-further",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-05T02:33:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Berlin Spectator",
    "slug": "the-berlin-spectator",
    "url": "https://berlinspectator.com/2026/08/05/lufthansa-profit-plunges-ticket-prices-set-to-climb-further/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a sharp decline for the airline industry, Lufthansa's adjusted operating profit for the second quarter of 2026 fell by a staggering 56 percent to 383 million Euro, as reported by the company. This drop was largely attributed to costly fuel prices and strikes by the airline's own crews. Despite higher ticket prices, passengers can expect further fare increases throughout the second half of the year, according to CEO Carsten Spohr. He hinted that a decline in full-year profit cannot be ruled out, projecting an adjusted operating profit of between 1.7 to 2.2 billion Euro for the year, down from the previously anticipated 1.96 billion Euro. The Russian-Iranian conflict significantly increased Lufthansa's fuel costs by approximately 750 million Euro in the second quarter alone. Strikes in April, around the airline's 100th-anniversary celebrations, added another 150 million Euro to the financial hit. However, smaller profit declines were reported by the company's technical-services and cargo divisions. CFO Till Streichert revealed that roughly 60 percent of the increased fuel costs were offset by higher ticket prices, with fares expected to continue climbing in the latter half of the year as travelers become increasingly price-insensitive. The fuel supply situation has improved, with refineries ramping up capacity and new supply chains coming online. Nonetheless, full-year fuel costs are projected to reach 8.7 billion Euro, a 200 million Euro decrease from the May projection. Lufthansa did benefit from the Iran conflict, as Middle Eastern rivals were temporarily sidelined, leading to higher ticket revenue for European carriers flying over Asian routes. As the Gulf carriers reestablish their capacity, they are now competing aggressively on price, primarily targeting leisure travelers who are more price-sensitive. Many companies have also prohibited managers from booking layovers in the Gulf region. Looking ahead, Lufthansa aims to focus growth on long-haul routes, considering a further one-percent cut to its European flight offerings. Total capacity is now expected to stagnate this year, a significant shift from the board's initial guidance of a 4 percent growth rate. Despite the strikes, Lufthansa saw a 20,000 flight reduction from its regional subsidiary, Lufthansa CityLine, resulting in a four-percent decline in overall passenger numbers to 35.6 million. However, group-wide quarterly revenue still rose by eight percent to 11.1 billion Euro, although net profit plummeted by 88 percent to 123 million Euro, driven by favorable tax effects in the previous year and current-year charges.",
  "summary": "The airline is grappling with expensive jet fuel and labor strikes. CEO Carsten Spohr now says a full-year profit decline is possible, and he's warning passengers that fares will stay high.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}