It became known that during the meeting with investors, Lufthansa told that it faced considerable risks concerning its earnings targets. The causes of the problem were fresh oil price rises and weak passenger demand. Shares of Lufthansa decreased by 5.5 per cent to close at €10.37. The German carrier is sure that such situation can be explained by a difficult operating environment.

Lufthansa forecasted that the current situation would remain during the current year. Moreover such airlines as the UK’s BMI British Midland and Austrian Airlines availed recently by Lufthansa would bring negative earnings contributions in the months ahead.

But according to analysts the group’s operating profit was better in comparison with the same period in 2008. Johannes Braun, of Commerzbank, characterized the group profit figure as a “big positive surprise” and hoped that he would be able to see stabilization in yields.

Many consider that despite the fact that the statement of Lufthansa was unexpected, the company made similar allegations in order to make its headline figures public and showed that it could influence on the market.

According to Justin Baer, American Airlines and US Airways decided to take actions in order to cover expenses amid the downturn in air-travel demand. Next year American is going to close an aircraft-maintenance facility in Kansas City and curtail repair stations that will cause to the loss of 700 jobs.

US Airways is considered to be a member of Lufthansa’s Star Alliance of international carriers and was going to intermit services between Philadelphia and five European destinations that would lead to the loss of about 1,000 jobs. The airline also wanted not to use the flight from Philadelphia to Beijing granted by US transport regulators but at the same time it would require to make some improvements in order to retain the option of re-applying in the future.