Aircraft delivery delays having 'brutal' impact on Lufthansa, says CEO

German Economy and Climate Minister Minister Robert Habeck and CEO of Lufthansa Carsten Spohr attend the third national aviation conference at Lufthansa Technik, in Hamburg, Germany, September 25, 2023. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/ File Photo

(Reuters) - Aircraft delivery issues are having a "brutal" impact on Lufthansa and will not be resolved before the end of the decade, according to CEO Carsten Spohr.

Speaking at the business press club in Stuttgart late Thursday, Spohr said the aircraft shortage could be costing Lufthansa some 500 million euros ($535.00 million) a year, although he did not provide an exact figure.

Lufthansa has ordered 250 new aircraft from Airbus and Boeing to modernize its fleet, with deliveries scheduled between 2024 and 2029.

However, "no plane arrives on time," said Spohr, adding that around 100 of Lufthansa's 750 aircraft were grounded either for maintenance reasons or because they had been decommissioned.

Earlier this week, Airbus lowered its forecast for deliveries this year to around 770 jets from around 800. The announcement came amid growing scepticism among suppliers over its jet output as Airbus grapples with parts shortages.

FILE PHOTO: Lufthansa planes stand parked as Frankfurt airport is closed to passengers with planned departures due to a strike organised by Verdi union, in Frankfurt, Germany, March 7, 2024. REUTERS/ Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo

Meanwhile, a series of incidents at Boeing have increased regulatory scrutiny of the U.S. manufacturer, adding to delays in deliveries that originated during the pandemic.

($1 = 0.9346 euros)

(Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach, writing by Paolo Laudani, editing by Friederike Heine)