Lufthansa First-Half Profit Jumps after Takeovers

Deutsche Lufthansa AG said Wednesday its first-half profit jumped sharply and sales after takeovers expanded its business.

The German flag-carrier's net profit rose to 85 million euros ($107 million) from a 200,000 euros in the first six months of 2005.

Revenue in the period rose 13 percent to 9.6 billion euros ($12.1 million) from 8.5 billion a year earlier, it said in a brief statement.

It said comparison with last year's figures was complicated by its takeover of Swiss International Air Lines and companies in the Eurowings group.

Lufthansa provided no details, saying it would release its full earnings report on Thursday.

The airline has already said, however, that the recent soccer World Cup in Germany boosted its passenger numbers in June.

Shares in Lufthansa fell 1 percent to close at 14.61 euros ($18.44) on the Frankfurt stock exchange.

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