Lufthansa still confident of Austrian deal - share wrap
Lufthansa's CEO, Wolfgang Mayrhuber, stated over the weekend that he remains confident the European Commission will approve the German carrier's planned takeover of Austrian Airlines, although he is more cautious that the green light will be given than six months ago.
Lufthansa's shares eased a further 4.4% on Friday, going against a 0.6% gain in the DAX index, as investors weigh up the challenging passenger and freight outlook confronting the carrier.
Elsewhere, Ryanair and easyJet shares rose 4.5% and 2.4%, respectively, as the UK Competition Commission recommended the break-up of BAA in its final report. Both LCCs said they look forward to a more competitive airport market.
European selected airlines daily share price movements (% change): 20-Mar-09