Frankfurt - German airline Lufthansa Wednesday reported a net loss of 32 million euros (47 million dollars) for the first nine months of this year.

This was down from a profit of 529 million euros in the same period of 2009, the company said in Frankfurt.

Sales fell 13.2 per cent to 16.2 billion euros, in line with analysts' forecasts.

Operating profit between January and the end of September fell to 226 million euros, more than 75 per cent below the year-earlier figure of 954 million euros.

Lufthansa shares traded 3.78 per cent lower mid-afternoon at 10.55 euros. (dpa)