Lufthansa CFO sees AUA making profits in 2011, paper

Sunday 01/11/2009 - Source: airline-news

FRANKFURT, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Deutsche Lufthansa's (LHAG.DE) chief financial officer expects Austrian Airlines (AUAV.VI) to start making contributions to group operating profit from 2011, according to an interview with a German newspaper on Sunday.

"I expect that for the Austrian (Airlines) in 2011," Stephan Gemkow told Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

He also said Brussels Airline should also be profitable next year but he does not expect that to happen to British Midland [BRSMDA.UL].

British Midland would first get a new management and introduce restructuring steps, he added.

The German airline has become Europe's biggest airline following an acquisitions spree.

Gemkow said in the interview he would not rule out any further acquisitions, adding: "If a good acquisition opportunity comes up, we look at it it very closely. But right now, no such steps can be expected."