Lufthansa to see 20% increase in number of passengers

German carrier Lufthansa, one of the top five airlines on the local market, estimates a 10% increase for this year in the value of tickets sold for flights to and from Romania. Given that Lufthansa sold tickets worth some 27 million euros in Romania in 2005, we can estimate, based on the growth rate announced by the company in 2006 and 2007, that ticket sales for this year will surpass 33 million euros. The number of passengers will also grow by 20% this year against last year, at a faster rate than the sales value. “The stronger growth in the number of passengers against the volume of sales by value will be maintained in 2007 as well, generated by the cut in fares,” says Cristina Dumitrescu, key accounts manager of the company. Last year, Lufthansa reported a 20% increase in the number of passengers, while the value of sales went up by 12% against 2005. Company representatives, however, say that this year the average occupancy rate on flights to and from Romania will decrease by 5% against last year, to 75%.