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Lufthansa Group has reported an operating profit down 3.2% at E983m (US$1.15b) for Q2, citing a "stressful period" for subsidiary Eurowings. The budget unit's earnings "developed negatively", says the group, while praising the performance of its network carriers. Group revenue rose 0.4% to E9.3b in Q2. First-half earnings were only "marginally below the record result" of the previous year, "largely driven" by positive development of the group's network airlines, including Lufthansa mainline, Swiss and Austrian Airlines. network carriers boosted their operating profit 4.9% to E836m in Q2, though revenue was down 3.7% at E5.94b. The group says first-half performance was "overall in line" with its expectations for the full year, but expects its adjusted operating profit for 2018 to be "slightly below" the level achieved last year. <br/>

In yet another example of how not to run an airline, on an everyday basis 15-20 commanders and first officers and almost 50 crew members of Air India fly from their bases to operate flights from other bases, resulting in a loss of revenue seats, expenditure on hotels, and payment for staff that is not for actual flying. Senior officials and sources in Air India say that this practice has multiplied. There are several reasons why this has been happening. Many Air India pilots who were hired in Mumbai have to often come to Delhi to operate flights since the merger of the two carriers (Air India and Indian Airlines) and also after the airline has been forced to operate more out of Delhi owing to better infrastructure. Mumbai as a hub has become more and more untenable as traffic has risen and this is true for all airlines. <br/>