Frankfurt - German airline Lufthansa AG joined on Tuesday the growing list of European companies issuing profit warnings after high fuel costs hit the group's earnings.

Vienna  - Soon-to-be privatized flag carrier Austrian Airlines AG reported Tuesday it lost 16.4 million euros (20.5 million dollars) in the third quarter, down from a profit of
29.2 million euros in the same period last year.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Russian domestic carrier S7 have both submitted bids to take over the 42.75-per-cent stake in Austrian Airlines which is currently held by the government.

Operating income showed a deficit of 9.4 million euros between July and September, due to high fuel costs, lower earnings on long- distance routes and price pressure from budget carriers, the report said.

London, Oct 28 : British Airways has stopped being the UK’s national carrier and effectively become London Airways. 

Though the airline still operates flights from Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, but passengers choice of destination from these cities is limited: They can fly to any other city they like – so long as it is London, The Independent reported. 

At the weekend, the airline axed the last international flight that neither departed from nor arrived at one of the London airports, the 44-year-old link from New York to Manchester. 

The slots at JFK have been redeployed for a new BA route from Gatwick. 

In the times of financial meltdown and rising oil prices, the aviation industry had to suffer a lot. Since it seems that the industry is finding it hard to pay dues to the airports, it has called for government intervention to pay it in installments, in the same manner as they have been allowed to pay for the fuel. 

London - London police gave the all-clear Friday afternoon after a suspicious piece of luggage had earlier forced the evacuation of the London City Airport.

Authorities said there was no connection to terrorist activity.

The airport was evacuated around 1330 GMT after several passengers began coughing and complaining of medical irritations. No passengers fell seriously ill and the airport was re-opened two hours after it was closed. Some flights were canceled or re-routed.