ZURICH, May 12 (Reuters) - Aircraft delivery delays from

Boeing ( BA ) are "extremely annoying" and cost Lufthansa

lots of money, but the U.S. planemaker should be able

to resolve its problems, the German airline's CEO said in a

newspaper interview.

Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr was direct when asked by

Switzerland's Neue Zuercher Zeitung how badly recent setbacks at

Boeing ( BA ) and subsequent delivery hold-ups were affecting his firm.

"This is extremely annoying and costs us a great deal of

money," Spohr said in the interview published at the weekend.

"However, I am sure Boeing ( BA ) will get the problems under control."

The Lufthansa boss said the industry needs two strong

providers, referring also to Boeing's ( BA ) European rival Airbus

.

"Everyone has an interest in Boeing ( BA ) being able to build

great aircraft more reliably again soon," he added.

Asked whether he could imagine buying Chinese aircraft,

Spohr played down the prospect.

"Given the safety standards we apply at the Lufthansa Group,

I don't think that's realistic for the coming years," he said.

Spohr was optimistic that a planned stake purchase by

Lufthansa in Italy's ITA Airways would get regulatory approval,

and said he would not be prepared to give up transatlantic

flights to North America as a concession to get the go-ahead.

(Writing by Dave Graham; Editing by Jan Harvey)