BERLIN -- The German government said on Friday it aimed to compensate national airline Lufthansa for the immediate impact of September's hijacked airline attacks on the United States.

U.S. authorities banned all aircraft from its airspace in the days following the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, forcing massive cancellations of transatlantic flights.

A spokesman for the German Transport Ministry told Reuters it would seek European Commission approval for the compensation, but said more talks with Lufthansa were needed before it could put a figure on the payment.

The EU, which has sought to prevent countries bailing out flag carriers in the past, has said the airlines may be reimbursed for lost business in the four days following the attacks.

France has received the go ahead to pay air France around 55 million euros ($48 million) and other countries have launched schemes to aid airlines.

At 1821 GMT Lufthansa shares were 0.63 percent down at 17.25 euros, outperforming a near two percent fall on the German blue-chip Dax index.