Xiamen Airport outperforms Chinese counterparts in first quarter – SHARE WRAP

Xiamen Airport's shares soared 7.2% yesterday as it reported a 41.6% operating margin in the first quarter of 2009. Operating profits rose 42.5%, as revenue surged 39% and the airport produced an impressive net margin of 31.2% - a figure airlines serving Xiamen could only dream of.

Shenzhen Airport's operating margin was even better at 48.6%, although operating profits fell 6.5% as revenues rose only 0.4% year-on-year. Net profits eased 10% and the airport reported a (still impressive) net margin of 38.3% in the first quarter. Shenzhen Airport's shares rose 1.7% yesterday.

Meanwhile, the listed companies that operate larger competitors, Guangzhou and Shanghai airports, reported falling operating profits and margins. Guangzhou's operating profit fell 7.7%, taking its operating margin down to 22.6%, while Shanghai Airport's operating profit collapsed 71.2%, due to substantially higher costs associated with the opening of new facilities at Pudong and the development of capacity at Hongqiao airports. Guangzhou Airport's shares fell 0.3% yesterday, while Shanghai's gained 1.3%.

Beijing Airport is yet to report its first quarter earnings, but this week reported a 90% slump in operating profit in 2008. It warned the revenue outlook was challenging as the CAAC has barred increases in aeronautical charges for the first half of 2009, to help the financially crippled airline sector. Beijing Airport's shares surged 5.5% yesterday.

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Selected airports daily share price movements (% change): 29-Apr-09

Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & Yahoo! Finance