Lufthansa beats BA to become Europe's 2nd biggest airline

Frankfurt

LUFTHANSA overtook British Airways owner IAG to become Europe's second biggest airline following the German carrier's most significant takeover spree in years.

The purchase of all of Brussels Airlines, previously part owned, and the leasing of planes from insolvent Air Berlin saw Lufthansa's passenger traffic surge 15 per cent last year, enough to surpass IAG, which had a 3.8 per cent gain. Air France-KLM Group remains the region's biggest carrier after 5 per cent growth.