German airline giant Lufthansa faces a turbulent year ahead after slashing its 2024 earnings outlook. The company blames a double whammy of disruptive strikes and slower-than-anticipated capacity expansion for the downward revision. This news sent Lufthansa's share price tumbling, reflecting investor concern about the airline's profitability. Lufthansa initially projected stable earnings for 2024 compared to 2023. However, the recent announcement reveals a significantly reduced expectation, with adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) now forecast at 2.2 billion euros ($2.3 billion).
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This stands in stark contrast to the previously anticipated figure. The airline points to a series of strikes as a major culprit for the downward revision. These labor disputes significantly impacted earnings, with Lufthansa estimating a hit of around 350 million euros. The strikes likely caused flight cancellations and disruptions, leading to lost revenue and passenger frustration. Adding to Lufthansa's woes is the slower-than-planned ramp-up of capacity. The airline likely aimed to increase its number of available flights to meet rising travel demand.
However, these efforts seem to be lagging behind expectations. This could be due to various factors, such as a shortage of qualified pilots or delays in acquiring new aircraft. The capacity constraints likely resulted in missed revenue opportunities for Lufthansa. Passengers seeking to travel on Lufthansa may have been forced to turn to competitors due to limited availability on Lufthansa flights. This could further exacerbate the financial strain caused by the strikes. The profit warning sent a shockwave through the market, with Lufthansa's share price plummeting over 4%.
This drop reflects investor disappointment in the revised outlook and potential concerns about the airline's ability to navigate the current challenges. Lufthansa's situation highlights the precarious position faced by many airlines in the post-pandemic recovery phase. While travel demand is on the rise, operational hurdles and unforeseen disruptions can quickly derail financial projections. The airline will need to find solutions to address labor disputes and expedite capacity expansion to achieve its initial goals for 2024.