Lufthansa reiterates flat 2005 profit forecast

Germany's Lufthansa reiterated its forecast for 2005 operating profit at last year's level today as it battles higher fuel costs…

Germany's Lufthansa reiterated its forecast for 2005 operating profit at last year's level today as it battles higher fuel costs and takes over Swiss International Air Lines.

Lufthansa last year posted operating profit of €383 million and plans to pay a dividend of 30 cent a share.

"The focus of overall development centres on the passenger business," airline chief Wolfgang Mayrhuber told the company's annual general meeting in Cologne, Germany.

"We want to grow and forge ahead with consolidation." Mr Mayrhuber added that "commensurate dividends are to become the norm".

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Lufthansa did not pay a dividend in 2001 or 2003.