Czech Airlines cuts loss as restucturing proceeds

...80 million) from 773 million a year ago, as the company proceeded with a restructuring plan.

The government agreed on Wednesday to sell the airline once the restructuring process is completed next year.

CSA said operating revenues from scheduled and charter flights rose 6.4 percent to 10.3 billion crowns.

The airline served 2.49 million passengers in the first half, up one percent from a year ago.

CSA said the results confirmed the company was on track to meet its 42 million crown profit outlook for the full year, a swing from a loss of 397 million last year.

"The improvement is driven by meeting the plan on the side of revenues and achieving higher cost savings," Chief Executive Radomir Lasak said in a statement.

The company said it had decided to retain a long-haul fleet, and may add the twin-aisle Boeing 767 or Airbus A330 planes to its portfolio if it finds affordable ones with the desired configuration on the market.

CSA, a member of the Sky Team alliance which also includes Air France-KLM , Delta Air Lines and Alitalia , operates a fleet of 50 mostly mid-range planes.