Business

Smooth landing for Aer Lingus s.cunningham@irishnews.com

AER Lingus has said it expects profits in 2014 to be in line with last year - despite issuing a warning earlier this year.

It posted a lost of E 9.9 million (£7.8m) for the first six months of the year, however that was roughly equal to the cost of strike action over the period.

Overall passenger volumes were up by one per cent to 4.6m with revenues up 6 per cent to E 697m (£552m). In the second quarter, the carrier had operating profits of E 38.7m, which it said was its best for five years.

"Based on recent trading trends we once again expect that full-year 2014 operating profit (before net exceptional items) will at least in line with 2013," Aer Lingus CEO Christoph Mueller said.