AIRLINES

Lufthansa to Increase Job Cuts: Lufthansa German Airlines plans to eliminate 1,748 jobs, rather than the 1,000 that had been previously reported, in its effort to cope with sluggish traffic and cheaper fares, airline employees say. Lufthansa declined to comment on the notice that was placed in an airplane hangar in Hamburg, Germany, and signed by a workers council. Lufthansa’s cost-cutting efforts also include plans to retire 24 aircraft by October, the notice said. The carrier apparently hopes to eliminate as many jobs as possible through early retirements. Transatlantic flights are operating well below capacity, and Lufthansa was among carriers forced to cut first-class, business class and full coach fares to match a sale begun this week by Delta Air Lines.