Earlier today The Lufthansa Group released their capacity and passenger traffic statistics for the first half of 2012. In all, The Group recognized an increase in passenger traffic of 3.9 percent as compared to the first half of 2011.

An increase in passenger load was recognized across all airline segments including Lufthansa (including Regional and germanwings), Austrian and Swiss which demonstrates broad based growth across The Group’s footprint. Austrian (now Tyrolean) realized the biggest gains in both passenger traffic and load factors.

As part of their 1st Half/2012 performance metrics, The Group was also able to increase the fleet’s load factor across all Group airlines. For the first half of 2012, The Group increased passenger loads by 1.8% and increased revenue passenger/kilometers flown by 2.8%. In other words, more passengers flew on fewer flights, which certainly enhances The Group’s operating efficiency.

During the first half of 2012, The Group operated 512,140 flights as compared to 517,809 flights during the first half of 2011.

Breakdown by Airline:

Lufthansa (including Regional and germanwings):

35.8 million passengers in the 1st half of 2012, up 3.4% over same period in 2011.
Passenger load factor increased from 75.7% to 76.5% for the first half of 2012.

Swiss:

8.095 million passengers in the 1st half of 2012, up 4.1% over same period in 2011.
Passenger load factor increased from 79.3% to 80.5% for the first half of 2012.

Austrian:

5.441 million passengers in the 1st half of 2012, up 6.7% over same period in 2011.
Passenger load factor increased from 70.7% to 74.0% for the first half of 2012.

Cargo:

Cargo continues to face substantial headwinds in part to a slowing economy on the European continent as well as service disruptions due to the overnight airport restrictions that have been implemented at Frankfurt.

For the first half of 2012 Cargo carried 864 thousand tons compared to 953 thousand tons in the first half of 2011, resulting in a decrease of 9.2%. The Cargo load factor decreased from 69.1% for the first half of 2011 to 68.4% for the first half of 2012.

In other words, Cargo was able to reduce capacity nearly in proportion with the decrease in tonnage carried so there was minimal waste of aircraft flying with lighter cargo loads.