FRANKFURT – German ******* Lufthansa saw its operating ****** narrow in the first quarter as fuel costs fell in the wake of lower oil prices.

Its operating loss of 167 million euros compared with a 240 million deficit a year ago. Fuel was 14 per cent cheaper – 36 per cent when the *******’s financial hedging is considered.

Once everything is accounted for, Lufthansa said Tuesday that it returned to profit during the period thanks to a 503 million-euro one-off gain as the ******* accounted for realized gains on shares in U.S. ******* JetBlue. Net profit came in at 425 million euros ($472 million).

Lufthansa is still reeling from the ***** of Germanwings Flight 9525 on March 24 in southern France. Investigators say co-pilot Andreas Lubitz deliberately flew the plane into the mountains.