German airline Lufthansa said operating earnings rose 57 per cent to €1.1bn in the first nine months of the year after it carried more passengers and fully consolidated subsidiary Airline Swiss in July.

The airline said sales rose 9 per cent to €16.4 between January and September, as it continued to parry competition from low-cost rivals in Europe and profit from strong demand for foreign travel. The company said it expected the “good operating development to continue” and that full-year operating profit should hit “around €1.3bn.” It had predicted a range of €1bn to €1.3bn in July.