The leading German airline, Lufthansa, has raised its 2008 operating profit forecast to €1.3 billion, mainly because of lower fuel costs.
Lufthansa had previously forecast operating profit of €1.1 billion for the period. It said the improvement was largely due to a more stable performance in the final quarter of the year.
Lufthansa said a slowdown in demand had been 'offset by cost reductions as a result of the decreasing fuel price' and accounting factors.
It warned, however, that the market was still in poor shape and that its outlook 'is now afflicted by significantly higher than usual risks'.
