RNS Number : 2465F
Aer Lingus Group PLC
08 January 2010
Aer Lingus Group plc
ISE: EIL1 LSE: AERL
Trading Update & Traffic Statistics
Dublin and London, 08 January 2010: Aer Lingus Group plc ("Aer Lingus" or the "Group") today issues a trading update for the six-month period from 1 July 2009 to 31 December 2009.
As a result of cost and capacity management actions implemented during 2009, the Group expects to report a small operating profit (before exceptional items) for the second half of 2009. This performance primarily reflects better than expected yields in the second half of 2009, which have been driven by removal of a long haul aircraft in September and tactical route cancellations in November.
Aer Lingus anticipates that demand will remain soft for the first six months of 2010 and the Group will therefore maintain its focus on tight capacity management to improve yields.
In this context, Aer Lingus has decided to implement changes to its London Gatwick Base. These changes reflect weak consumer demand and continuing challenges in the UK operating environment, which have impacted aviation sector performance generally.
Effective 31 March 2010, Aer Lingus will reduce capacity at the base from five to three Airbus A320 aircraft. The three aircraft will continue to serve three existing routes to Malaga, Dublin and Knock and a new route to Cork.
Aer Lingus has also reached agreement with Airbus on the deferral of two A320 aircraft originally due for delivery in October and November 2010 to April and May 2011, respectively. This revised delivery schedule is in addition to earlier deferrals previously announced by the Group in 2009. Aer Lingus negotiated the revised delivery schedule at no additional cost to the Group.
Aer Lingus today also announces traffic statistics for the month of December 2009.
Aer Lingus' total passenger numbers in December 2009 were 766,000, an increase of 9.0% compared to December 2008. Short haul passengers were 693,000, a 13.2% increase on December 2008 and long haul passengers were 73,000, a 19.8% decrease on December 2008.
Aer Lingus' overall load factor in the month was 71.9%, an increase of 2.5 points compared to December 2008, with capacity decreasing by 4.9%. Short haul load factor was 69.5%, an increase of 2.6 points on 2008, with capacity increasing by 11.6%. Long haul load factor was 76.8%, an increase of 4.2 points on 2008, with capacity decreasing by 26.4%.
Detailed traffic statistics are set out below.
Press Enquiries:
Enda Corneille Shelia Gahan/Brian Bell
Aer Lingus Wilson Hartnell Public Relations
Tel: +353 1 886 2000 Tel: +353 1 669 0030
+353 87 234 2409 (SG)
+353 87 243 6130 (BB)
Email: sheila.gahan@ogilvy.com
brian.bell@ogilvy.com
International:
Victoria Palmer-Moore/Matthew Fletcher
Powerscourt
Tel: +44 207 250 1446
Email: victoria.palmermoore@powerscourtmedia.com
matthew.fletcher@powerscourtmedia.com
Investor Relations:
Declan Murphy Jonathan Neilan
Aer Lingus FD K Capital Source
Tel: +353 1 886 2228 Tel: +353 1 663 3683
Email: investor.relations@aerlingus.com Email: jonathan.neilan@fd.com
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Aer Lingus Scheduled Traffic Statistics
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December
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Year-to-date
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2009
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2008
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Change %
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2009
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2008
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Change %
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Passengers (thousands)1
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Short haul
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693
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612
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13.2
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9,673
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9,151
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5.7
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Long haul
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73
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91
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(19.8)
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1,067
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1,271
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(16.1)
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Total
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766
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703
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9.0
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10,740
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10,422
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3.1
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Revenue passenger
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kilometres (RPKs) (millions)1
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Short haul
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689
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595
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15.8
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10,288
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9,472
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8.6
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Long haul
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383
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492
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(22.2)
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5,774
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7,183
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(19.6)
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Total
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1,072
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1,087
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(1.4)
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16,062
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16,655
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(3.6)
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Available seat kilometres
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(ASKs) (millions)
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Short haul
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992
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889
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11.6
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13,220
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12,328
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7.2
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Long haul
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499
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678
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(26.4)
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8,007
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10,042
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(20.3)
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Total
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1,491
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1,567
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(4.9)
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21,227
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22,370
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(5.1)
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Passenger load factor (%)2
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% Points
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% Points
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Short haul
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69.5
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66.9
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2.6
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77.8
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76.8
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1.0
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Long haul
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76.8
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72.6
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4.2
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72.1
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71.5
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0.6
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Total
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71.9
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69.4
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2.5
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75.7
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74.5
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1.2
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Detailed traffic statistics may be subject to change.
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Notes
1 Earned seats and earned revenue passenger kilometres include seats and passenger kilometres respectively that are sold regardless of whether the passenger shows for a flight, as once a flight has departed the passenger is generally not entitled to change flights or obtain a refund.
2 Earned revenue passenger kilometres as a percentage of available seat kilometres
ENDS
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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