Lufthansa Group reported (05-Aug-2021) its outlook for the full year 2021 remains dependent on the pandemic situation, which has a significant direct impact on business development. Travel restrictions in particular have a "decisive influence on customer demand", although the "desire for travel is unbroken among people". Key highlights include:
- Lufthansa expects a positive development in demand for European tourism and an increasing recovery in business travel in 2H2021. Lufthansa Group's airlines have further expanded their range of long-haul flights to include tourist destinations;
- The company expects an increasing opening of international markets in 2H2021. Air travel to North America should be possible again from late summer and gradually towards Asia towards the end of 2021;
- Total group capacity will be around 40% of the pre-crisis level in 2019 in 2021. A further increase in capacity to around 50% of the pre-crisis level and an increase in passenger numbers is expected for 3Q2021;
- Lufthansa Group thus expects to be able to stop the operating cash outflow in 3Q2021 and to generate positive EBITDA;
- In 2021 as a whole, the Lufthansa Group continues to expect an increase in sales and a reduction in operating loss as measured by Adjusted EBIT. [more - original PR]