Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport

Budapest market recovers following loss of Malev

The Hungarian market has recovered incredibly well since the loss of national carrier Malev Hungarian Airlines in Feb-2012. In the days and weeks that followed, up to 80% of the point-to-point traffic lost from Malev’s collapse on 03-Feb-2012 was quickly recovered. By the start of the 2012 summer season nearly all of the point-to-point traffic was already recovered. Wizz Air and Ryanair were first to fill the void, however other carriers from across Europe also increased their presence in the months following.

Low-cost carriers have accounted for most of the capacity added to fill the void left by Malev. Hungary-based LCC Wizz Air now faces a considerable level of competition from Ryanair, which opened a base at the airport in mid Feb-2012. While there has been a lot of activity in the past seven months, more expansion is still yet to come at Budapest Airport.

Ryanair's profits fall as it ponders stakes in Aer Lingus and London Stansted

Dublin-based Ryanair recorded a near 30% fall in earnings for the three months ending 30-Jun-2012 in spite of a 6% rise in passenger numbers and a 4% increase in average fares. Net profit for its fiscal first quarter came in at EUR99 million compared to EUR139 million in the year-ago period as revenues rose 11%. But the airline's total operating expenses grew at a higher rate of 17% primarily due to sharply higher fuel costs.

Ryanair’s decrease in net profit was in line with its own guidance, but below consensus forecasts of EUR114 million. Despite the fall in earnings during its fiscal first quarter the carrier is maintaining its full-year outlook and expects to earn between EUR400 million and EUR440 million for its fiscal year ending 31-Mar-2013 as continuing austerity measures, recession in Europe and lower yields at new bases will restrain fare growth. It anticipates growing passenger numbers by 5% to 79 million. Europe’s largest LCC in terms of passengers posted a net profit of EUR503 million in FY2012 and EUR403 million in FY2011.

After Malev's grounding, Hungary could become large LCC market with Wizz Air and Ryanair moving in

Low-cost carriers, in particular Wizz Air and Ryanair, stand to benefit the most from the 03-Feb-2012 suspension of services at Hungarian flag carrier Malev. Budapest-based Wizz Air was already the second largest carrier in the Hungarian market and has now become the country’s largest carrier. Ryanair, which only late last month unveiled plans to resume service to Budapest, will become within a few months the second largest carrier in Hungary in the post-Malev era.

Lufthansa, as the largest remaining legacy carrier in the Hungarian market, is also poised to benefit from Malev’s grounding. Malev had accounted for a 47% share of capacity (seats) in its home market. Most of this share will be absorbed by LCCs although total traffic at Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport, which is owned by a private consortium led by Germany’s Hochtief, will likely decrease as its status as a transit hub is lost. Malev had been pushing to raise Budapest’s profile as an international hub, focusing on east-west connections. Malev's collapse saw oneworld overnight drop from the leading alliance in Hungary to the third largest after Star Alliance and SkyTeam.

Hungary’s Malev closes in on profitability

Hungarian Government-owned flag carrier Malev has seen a significant improvement in its financial situation over the last several months as it looks to a potential re-privatisation in 2012.

Restructuring work began at Malev in Feb-2010, when the Government renationalised the highly unprofitable carrier, and as reported in June was approaching conclusion, with aims be back in the black in 2012. Malev chief commercial officer Otto Gergye told CAPA last week that Malev’s financial performance has improved significantly over the last three months and “we’re definitely on the right track”.

Middle Eastern LCCs driving growth into Eastern Europe, Russia and CIS

Russia, the CIS nations and Central and Eastern Europe have been receiving a great deal of attention from Middle East-based carriers in recent months. Full service and low-cost carriers have announced or added a flurry of routes into Eastern European destinations over the past few weeks. Airlines in the Middle East are looking to tap into the underserved region, which is still showing strong economic growth despite troubles in several European markets and strong growth in business and tourism traffic.

Homegrown LCCs Air Arabia and flydubai are leading a push into the regions, but so too is Qatar Airways. Additionally, Oman Air plans to launch services to Moscow. While Middle Eastern carriers have long dominated traffic into western Europe, they now comprise the majority of traffic between the Middle East and central Europe, eastern Europe, Russia and CIS.

HNA Group on the acquisition trail

HNA Group is one of the most fascinating growth stories in Chinese aviation, tourism and related sectors. Having aggressively expanded its asset base, integrating both horizontally and vertically over the past decade, HNA has become one of China’s leading conglomerates, with extremely diversified revenue streams, geographic spread and exposure to many fast-growing sectors of the powerhouse Chinese economy.