LOT says it flew nearly 9m passengers this year, more than in any previous year and up from 6.8m in 2017. The carrier handled 5.5m passengers in 2016 and 4.3m in 2015, according to previous reports. LOT is eyeing a new record of 10m passengers in 2019, a spokesman for the company has been quoted as saying. The airline expects to end 2018 with a profit of more than US$53.22m it was reported Saturday. Since the beginning of 2016, the airline has launched 66 new flights, including new long-haul destinations such as Los Angeles, Tokyo and Seoul, bringing the total to 107. The airline was this month named "Best Airline in Eastern Europe" by US magazine Global Traveler. <br/>
star
Lufthansa has called on Frankfurt Airport operator Fraport and German border police to urgently address system problems that led to some 3,000 passengers missing their flights in the days leading to Christmas. Passengers using Frankfurt Dec 22 faced security lines of up to 90 minutes and many of them missed their flights even if they turned up early. Lufthansa said it had to delay 88 flights because bags had to be unloaded from aircraft after passengers were unable to get through security and to their gates in time. The security lines were particularly bad at Terminal 1, which is used by Lufthansa and its Star Alliance partner airlines. Lufthansa and Fraport have been in dispute for years over airport fees, which the airline considers to be too high, and recurring delays at Lufthansa’s home base. <br/>