Dart Group PLC operating profit up 39% in 1HFY2014, airline op becoming increasingly seasonal

Dart Group PLC reported (21-Nov-2013) the following financial highlights for six months ended 30-Sep-2013:

• Revenue: GBP787.1 million, +35% year-on-year;
• • Leisure Airline: GBP463.2 million, +19%;
  • Package Holidays: GBP380.1 million, +110%;
  • Distribution and Logistics: GBP78.2 million, -2.6%;
• Operating profit: GBP81.2 million, +39%;
• Profit before tax: GBP78.1 million, +37%;
• Net profit: GBP60.2 million, +40%;
• • Jet2.com operational highlights:
  • • Passenger numbers: 4.1 million, +13.1%;
    • Load factor: 92.5%, +0.9 ppt;
    • Tickets yields: +9.2%;
    • Retail revenue per passenger: +7.8%;
  • Total assets: GBP700.5 million;
  • Cash and cash equivalents: GBP250.8 million;
  • Total liabilities: GBP483.1 million;
• 2013/14 winter outlook:
• • Capacity: +23%;
• 2014 summer outlook:
• • Capacity: +14%. [more - original PR]

Dart Group: "Whilst the Group's trading performance during the first six months of the year has been satisfactory, our leisure travel operations are becoming increasingly seasonal as we continue to grow the business and winter losses are expected to increase materially. Accordingly, with the important winter booking period still to come, the Board remains cautiously optimistic in relation to profit growth for the financial year ending 31 March 2014." Source: Company statement, 21-Nov-2013.