BERLIN (Reuters) - Lufthansa Airlines aims to be profitable again but still has a ways to go despite the initial success of its restructuring plan, CEO Jens Ritter told journalists on Wednesday evening.

Lufthansa wants to be the leading premium airline in Europe "and of course be profitable again", Ritter said.

"Despite many positive developments in recent months, we are not there yet," he added.

The main Lufthansa brand is currently the Lufthansa Group's problem child. A restructuring programme is intended to improve earnings by two-thirds through cost reductions and one third through increased sales.

The airline has defined more than 600 measures in all company divisions to bring it back onto the path to profitability.