Latest news with #CarstenSpohr
Reuters
31-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Lufthansa, Air France-KLM defy trade war worries with Q2 growth
LONDON/CHICAGO/GDANSK, July 31 (Reuters) - European airlines Lufthansa ( opens new tab and Air France-KLM ( opens new tab reported higher second-quarter profits on Thursday, defying worries that economic uncertainty and U.S. tariffs might hit transatlantic travel. Transatlantic connections are among the most lucrative for airlines, having bolstered British Airways-owner IAG (ICAG.L), opens new tab in recent years as European competitors struggled. A number of U.S. airlines, including Delta (DAL.N), opens new tab, abandoned their full-year financial forecasts this spring on the back of weakening travel demand after U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs dented business and consumer confidence. European airlines, however, are bucking the trend. Lufthansa said on Thursday that demand in the United States remained strong despite a weaker U.S. dollar, while Air France-KLM highlighted the strength of its premium offering. Lufthansa reported a 27% year-on-year increase in second-quarter operating profit to 871 million euros ($995 million), beating analysts' average forecast of 805 million euros. "Although the second quarter was again marked by geopolitical crises and economic uncertainties, we are today confirming our positive outlook for the full year," Chief Executive Carsten Spohr said in a statement. U.S. airlines have reported an improvement in bookings since late June after a sharp drop in March and April when Trump unleashed his trade war. While demand has stabilised, airline executives say it is below estimates at the start of the year. Moreover, spending by price-sensitive travellers remains depressed amid lingering uncertainty about the U.S. economy and rising living costs. European travellers are known for being more price-sensitive than Americans, often having less spending power. But wealthy Americans are flocking to Europe this summer. While domestic U.S. travel has struggled, hitting budget airlines, resilient demand for premium and long-haul international travel has helped Delta and United Airlines (UAL.O), opens new tab perform better. Lufthansa's profit beat was helped by its investment in Italy's ITA Airways, which contributed a "surprisingly large" profit to the group's bottom line, Bernstein analyst Alex Irving said in a note to clients. Still, Irving said Air France-KLM had "meaningfully outperformed" Lufthansa on North Atlantic sales. At 0750 GMT, Lufthansa shares were down 1%, while Air France-KLM's were up 2.7%. Lufthansa has struggled with rising labour costs as well as a slower return in traffic from Asia since the pandemic, issuing two profit warnings last year. The move to focus on Italy was a cost-saving measure - the Rome hub is far cheaper to maintain than German bases - that is starting to pay off, the company said. Air France-KLM's second-quarter operating profit rose to 736 million euros from 513 million euros a year earlier, in line with analyst expectations. While Air France has benefited from strong demand to Paris and capitalised on its luxury French appeal, KLM has struggled with ongoing challenges at Schiphol airport near Amsterdam. ($1 = 0.8751 euros)
Reuters
31-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Lufthansa beats Q2 profit forecasts, confirms full-year guidance
BERLIN/LONDON, July 31 (Reuters) - Lufthansa ( opens new tab reported better-than-expected second-quarter results on Thursday, boosted by low oil prices and currency effects, and confirmed its full-year guidance. The German airline group reported an operating profit of 871 million euros ($995.3 million), compared with a forecast 805 million euros, according to an analyst poll compiled by Lufthansa. That is 27% higher against the 686 million euros reported in the same quarter last year. The company said the improved earnings were mainly due to its expanded flight programme in the passenger business, the positive effects from its investment in Italy's ITA Airways and a doubling in the operating result in its logistics segment. "Although the second quarter was again marked by geopolitical crises and economic uncertainties, we are today confirming our positive outlook for the full year," Chief Executive Carsten Spohr said in a statement. Lufthansa has struggled with spiralling costs tied to labour as well as a slower return in traffic from Asia, issuing two profit warnings last year. Spohr said Lufthansa's core brand had made strides in punctuality and operational stability amid ongoing restructuring efforts. Lufthansa also said demand in the United States remained strong despite the weakness of the U.S. dollar. Europe's major airlines are cautiously monitoring a possible dip in transatlantic travel to the United States as European travellers have shied away from booking trips there this year. A number of U.S. airlines, including Delta (DAL.N), opens new tab, abandoned their outlooks this spring on the back of weakening travel demand after U.S. President Donald Trump's administration announced tariffs, denting business and consumer confidence. European airlines, however have remained more optimistic to date although Virgin Atlantic did also warn earlier this year that it was seeing some slowdown in transatlantic bookings. ($1 = 0.8751 euros)
The Independent
14-07-2025
- The Independent
Family of woman who was struck by Lufthansa CEO's wife is ‘destroyed' over her tragic death
The family of a woman who was killed in an alleged hit-and-run by the wife of Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr, has been 'destroyed' by her death. Gaia Costa, a 24-year-old babysitter, was walking across a pedestrian crossing in Sardinia earlier this week when she was struck, according to local outlet II Sole 24 ORE. 'At this time, we must respect the pain of a destroyed family,' said Antonello Desini, a lawyer for the Costa family, per Italian media. Desini added that his 'clients have the utmost confidence in the work of the Tempio Public Prosecutor's Office,' who will be handling the case. The New York Post reports that Costa's father is a well-known unionist for Confederazione Italiana Sindacati Lavoratori – one of the largest trade union organizations in Italy. The incident occurred on Tuesday at around 1.00 p.m. Local media reported that 51-year-old Vivian Spohr was driving a BMW X5 SUV with her daughter as a passenger, when the crash occurred. Witnesses told police that they saw Costa extend her arm to signal for the driver to stop, but instead watched as the vehicle accelerated, striking her. 'Vivian Spohr, who was involved in the tragic death, expresses her dismay and deep regret over this very serious accident, which has devastated a family, the town of Tempio, and the entire community of Gallura,' a statement released Friday by Spohr's attorneys read. The statement added that Spohr places herself 'at the complete disposal of the Italian judicial authorities for the necessary investigations and, while aware that such a great personal loss cannot be repaired, will take steps to mitigate its consequences.' Emergency services at the scene attempted to revive Costa for around 20 minutes before pronouncing her dead at the scene as a result of severe head trauma. Reports suggest authorities are investigating whether Spohr was using her phone at the time of the incident. Her alcohol and drug tests were negative, according L'Unione Sarda. The Spohr family had been spending time at a home they own on the island close to the community of Porto Cervo. After the collision, the family returned to Germany. Carsten Spohr has been the CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG since May 2014. He runs the Lufthansa Group, comprising the business segments of Network Airlines, Eurowings, Logistics, and MRO. They have over 100,000 employees worldwide. An autopsy on the body of Costa will be carried out on Wednesday.
The Sun
12-07-2025
- The Sun
Tragic crash pic emerges after airline CEO's wife ‘ran down babysitter, 24, as lawyer dismisses claims she fled scene
TRAGIC pictures have revealed the aftermath of the fatal crash where a CEO's wife allegedly ran over a babysitter - with her lawyers shutting down claims she fled the scene. Vivian Alexandra Spohr, 51, the wife of billionaire Lufthansa boss Carsten Spohr, is alleged to have struck Gaia Costa with her car as she was crossing the road in Sardinia. 9 9 9 Spohr is now being investigated for negligent homicide - and her lawyers have rubbished previous reports that she fled the scene following the horror crash. They said that the 51-year-old driver actually gave first aid to the dying woman after realising what had happened. The babysitter tragically passed away after Spohr's SUV struck her as she attempted to walk across a zebra crossing in the Italian seaside resort of Porto Cervo. Costa is said to have raised her arm in an attempt to warn the BMW of her presence before being hit at around 1:30pm on Tuesday. Gaia was reportedly still alive when help reached her, but had sustained serious head injuries and tragically died at the scene, La Repubblica reported. Shocking pictures taken in the aftermath show Costa's body covered by a large white sheet and lying on the ground next to a black SUV. Several other emergency response vehicles were seen parked around the harrowing scene. Reports previously claimed that Spohr, who was driving with her daughter in the car, initially didn't notice the accident. She was said to have been stopped by a passerby before fainting after she saw what had happened. But Spohr's lawyer, Angelo Merlini, said on Saturday: "Contrary to what was previously reported, Vivian Spohr stopped after the accident and provided first aid to the girl. "However, after an initial attempt at resuscitation, Vivian Spohr lost consciousness and fainted." Merlini added that Spohr struck the woman at a "very low speed" with her car, which has an automatic transmission and is very heavy. One witness at the scene reportedly said that moments after the collision, the driver opened the door of the vehicle and "immediately realised what had happened, put her hands to her face and collapsed to the ground". Spohr had been on holiday at her family's holiday home in the seaside resort - but reportedly travelled back to Munich while prosecutor Milena Aucone was registering her as a suspect. Her lawyers said on Friday: "Vivian Spohr, who was involved in the tragic death, expresses her dismay and deep regret over this very serious accident. "She has placed herself at the complete disposal of the judicial authorities for the necessary investigations and, although aware that such a great personal loss cannot be remedied, will take steps to mitigate the consequences." 9 9 9 The billionaire's wife took alcohol and drug tests following the crash, and both came back negative. CCTV is understood to have captured Costa crossing the street before noticing the SUV approaching her. She desperately attempted to stop it by waving her hand - but she was knocked to the ground moments later and banged her head. Ambulance services arrived at the scene shortly after and paramedics spent more than 20 minutes trying to revive her before she was tragically pronounced dead. The SUV was seized and will undergo technical investigations. An examination of Costa's body was conducted on Wednesday. The region's mayor Gianni Addis said: "Gaia was a young woman who was deeply involved in the city's social and cultural life. "She was passionate about our traditions and never missed the parades of the local folk group." Cops continue to investigate the circumstances of the accident. 9 9
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Time of India
Lufthansa CEO's wife rams car into pedestrian in Italy killing her, says she's ‘deeply sorrowful'
Vivian Spohr , wife of Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr, is under investigation by Italian authorities after a tragic car accident on Tuesday(July 8) that claimed the life of a 24-year-old woman in the resort town of Porto Cervo, Sardinia. According to Italian media and local police reports, Spohr was driving an SUV, reported as a BMW X5, when she struck Gaia Costa at a pedestrian crosswalk. Costa, a resident of Tempio Pausania in northern Sardinia, died at the scene from severe head injuries. Witnesses say Costa raised her hand to signal her presence as she crossed, but the vehicle did not stop. Local news outlets reported that Spohr initially continued driving after the collision, unaware of what had occurred. Bystanders quickly flagged her down. Witnesses say she stopped, exited the car, saw the young woman's injuries, and fainted. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ingin Tahu Tentang Diagnosis Limfoma? Dapatkan Info Selengkapnya Limfoma Baca Undo Spohr, 51, later released a statement through her Italian legal team expressing 'dismay and deep sorrow for this grave accident, which has devastated a family, the town of Tempio, and the entire community of Gallura.' She also emphasized that she is 'at the complete disposal of the Italian judicial authorities' and acknowledged that 'such a great personal loss cannot be repaired, but she will take steps to mitigate its consequences.' Italian prosecutors have opened an investigation for possible vehicular manslaughter, known under Italian law as "omicidio stradale." Authorities are currently examining surveillance footage and digital data from Spohr's phone to determine whether she was distracted at the time of the collision. Blood and alcohol tests reportedly came back negative. Live Events Spohr had been staying at her family's vacation home in Porto Cervo. She returned to Germany shortly after the incident. Her husband, Carsten Spohr, has led Lufthansa since 2014. The airline reported a $1.5 billion profit last year and employs over 100,000 people globally. Gaia's family has not commented publicly. Their lawyer, Antonello Desini, told La Repubblica, 'At this time, we must respect the grief of a broken family."
