Squawk7777
6th Mar 2002, 02:02
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica"> Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Germany's leading airline group, announced yesterday that it had already relaxed the recruitment ban which came into effect at the end of 2001. A spokesman for the airline stressed, however, that the recruitment ban had only been lifted for the check-in, cabin crew and handling departments and added that the ban was still valid for departments such as administration, cargo transport and technology.. .. .The group had stopped recruiting new members of staff as a result of the events of 11 September 2001. The spokesman highlighted yesterday that there were signs of a moderate recovery and added that Lufthansa was examining whether to reactivate laid-up planes. The airline laid up 43 planes during the fourth quarter of 2001. Only a few days ago, chairman Jurgen Weber had announced that sales were recovering and had confirmed that Lufthansa would close 2002 with a balanced operating result. He said that the load factor had nearly risen to its former levels again. Shares in the company, which are listed on Germany's Dax share index, temporarily gained more than 4.5 per cent to 19.4 euros yesterday.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">