Vueling profitable in 2009 following clickair merger; Nok Air expects USD9 million profit in 2010
Spanish LCC Vueling reported a EUR27.7 million profit in 2009 (+225% year-on-year), for a net profit margin of 4.6%, (+2.7 ppts), as revenues increased 36% (to EUR602 million), reflecting the integration of Vueling and clickair on 01-Jul-2009. Vueling's shares were down 5.7% yesterday, with investors clearly hoping for more from the final quarter.
During 4Q2009, Vueling posted break-even EBIT for the first time in a fourth quarter (with a loss of EUR0.5 million, excluding restructuring costs of EUR16.7 million) representing a 13.3 ppt margin improvement from the negative. Net losses in the quarter, however, totalled EUR13 million, a 23% year-on-year reduction. Also in the quarter, revenues increased 84% year-on-year to EUR160 million.
On a unit basis, however, total revenue per ASK slipped 3.1%, to EUR 5.15 cents in 4Q2009, with total income per passenger down 10.2% to EUR66.67, as the "average pure fare" per passenger decreased 1.6% to EUR51.56 and "average pure ancillary revenue" per passenger slumped 33.1% to EUR8.24 (overall, "total pure ancillary revenues" represented 12.4% of the airline's total revenues in 4Q2009, and increased by 37% year-on-year).
Meanwhile, cost per ASK in the quarter fell 14.4% year-on-year, to EUR 5.16 cents, due to a 33.3% reduction in fuel costs. Unit costs excluding fuel also fell, by 8.1% to EUR 4.16 cents.
Vueling handled 2.4 million passengers in 4Q2009, a 105% year-on-year increase, as capacity (ASKs) was increased 90% and Vueling's network was expanded to include 92 routes (+54% year-on-year). With the merger, Vueling is now the largest carrier at three of its six bases (at Barcelona, Sevilla and Bilbao).
Looking forward, Vueling expects continued ex-fuel CASK reductions in 2010, with an improved net result also anticipated. As the carrier completes its merger process, which is expected to deliver cost synergies of EUR15.5 million in 2010 and revenue synergies of EUR20 million in 1H2010, the LCC's cash reserves are expected to increase significantly (the carrier had EUR121 million in cash as at 31-Dec-2009, including proceeds from a EUR13 million credit line).
Nok Air expecting reduced net profit of USD9 million in 2010
In other LCC financial news, Nok Air stated it expects to report a profit of USD9.1 million in 2010, down 21% year-on-year due to increased oil prices.
The carrier also expects to handle 3.2 million passengers, up 39% year-on-year, as the LCC increasingly operates more domestic services for parent, Thai Airways. Nok and Thai have signed an MoU for codesharing and the development of a two-brand strategy, as part of plans to more effectively compete with foreign LCCs entering Thailand. Nok Air also plans to resume international services in the next two years.
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Selected LCCs daily share price movements (% change): 23-Feb-2010
