Major European and American LCCs gain on Jul-2009 traffic results, yield pressures still a concern
LCC shares were mixed on Thursday (06-Aug-09), as oil prices eased, after a week of solid gains. New York oil prices were down USD0.03 cents at USD71.94 on Thursday, as US crude inventories increased and the services sector contracted more sharply than expected in Jul-2009. In London, oil prices were down USD0.44 to end the day at USD74.83
Europe's three largest LCCs report strong Jul-2009 traffic
Leading the LCC gainers again yesterday was Air Berlin, up 5.7% following Wednesday's 7.0% gain, on news that the LCC increased unit revenue (per ASK) in Jul-2009 by 5.9% year-on-year to EUR 6.20 cents. The carrier's load factor gained 0.1 ppts to 83.4% in the month, as the carrier benefited from a capacity reduction of 3.4% in the quarter. Passenger numbers declined 3.3% to 2.8 million as a result of the capacity contraction.
Also in Europe, easyJet shares jumped 5.1%, as the carrier increased passenger numbers by 4.3% to 4.7 million in the month, with load factors gaining 1.0 ppts to an impressive 90.3%. Ryanair, which reported a 19% pax increase in Jul-2009 yesterday, gained 0.6% on Thursday.
US domestic revenues and yields remain weak, but on the improve
Across the Atlantic, Southwest (+1.3%) reported a 0.1% increase in revenue passengers in Jul-2009, with load factors jumping 6.9 ppts to 83.2%, a key improvement for the carrier. However, of key concern for the carrier was a continued reduction in passenger revenue per ASM in the range of 5-6% in the month, although this does represent an improvement from the Jun-2009's 9-10% reduction,
JetBlue (-1.5%) also reported a reduction in unit revenues of 9%, while passenger numbers increased 4.0% and load factors slipped 0.5 ppts to a still notable 86.1% in Jul-2009.
Frontier Airlines meanwhile, reported an 11.0% year-on-year reduction in unit revenue, and an 15.0% reduction in yield in the month, despite significant capacity reductions during the month (-16.0%). This resulted in a 10.5% reduction in passenger levels, but boosted load factors by 4.2 ppts to 92.0%.
WestJet (+3.4%), similarly, warned that the pricing environment showed no signs of improvements in Jul-2009 or 2Q2009, with the carrier anticipating declines continuing at similar levels in 3Q2009, reflecting current economic challenges and aggressive competitive prices. The carrier, which reported an 11.6% reduction in yield and 15.4% RASM reduction in 2Q2009, stated it is seeing early indications that the economy is recovering, with stability over the past six weeks. WestJet reported a steep reduction in profitability levels in 2Q2009, with net profitability down 65.7% to CAD9.2 million, although these results were stronger than expected, prompting a 3.4% increase in the carrier's shares yesterday.
See related article: Southwest, JetBlue, Frontier and WestJet burning yields to boost loads
AirAsia defers A320 deliveries
In the Asia Pacific region, AirAsia's shares gained 2.0%, as the carrier announced that it had signed an amendment agreement with Airbus to defer the delivery of eight A320 aircraft originally scheduled for delivery in 2010 to the 2014, without any financial penalties. 16 aircraft will still be delivered to the carrier in 2010. AirAsia stated it has deferred the aircraft as it foresees infrastructure constraints with the current airport facilities in Kuala Lumpur and until the new LCCT is constructed.
Air Arabia's shares also gained yesterday, up 5.0%, its largest gain at the Dubai Exchange after being rated "buy" in resumed coverage at Goldman Sachs Group.
Selected LCCs daily share price movements (% change): 06-Aug-09
