easyJet expected to report first dividend; Aeroflot net profit up 55.3%
easyJet (+1.3%) gained on Monday (15-Nov-2010) ahead of the release of its 3Q2010 financial results on 16-Nov-2010. The LCC is reportedly preparing to declare its first dividend with the small, regular dividend alongside the results.
The LCC is also reportedly planning to make a strategy announcement on 16-Nov-2010, centreing on gaining greater share of the business passenger market. The "easyJet-style business proposition" is expected to involve greater flexibility for business passengers willing to pay slightly more than regular customers although the carrier will reportedly stress that the move does not represent a departure from the airline's egalitarian ethos.
The carrier also plans to target the leisure market in part through its recent agreement with the Low Cost Travel Group to offer packaged holiday products including flights, hotels and airport transfer.
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Key competitor Ryanair (-1.5%) declined for the session on the news.
Iberia (+1.6%) was also up on reports the carrier is planning to launch its low-cost brand Iberia Express in Feb-2011. No further details were revealed. El Al (+3.4%) and British Airways (+1.9%) also gained.
Aeroflot net profit up 55.3%
Aeroflot (-0.2%) slipped despite reporting a 55.3% year-on-year improvement in net profit, to EUR280.0 million, for the nine months ended 30-Sep-2010. The result was on the back of a 23.6% gain in revenue over the period, to EUR1962 million, while costs roe 22.8%, to EUR1558 million. The carrier ended the period with a 60.2% increase in total assets (when compared to period commencing 01-Jan-2010), to EUR1839 million.
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Eurofly (-2.8%), Cimber Sterling (-1.5%) and Finnair (-1.5%) were also among the decliners for the session.
Europe selected airlines daily share price movements (% change): 15-Nov-2010
Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, Yahoo! Finance & Reuters