Air New Zealand’s load factors and pax levels rise, but yields still below 2008 levels
Air New Zealand reported further improvements in demand and load factors last month, but yields are still lagging. The carrier handled 1 million passengers in Jun-2010 across its network, a 7.8% year-on-year increase, with traffic (RPKs) increasing by 5.8% on a 1.7% capacity (ASKs) increase.
Air New Zealand Pax growth, RPK growth and ASK growth: Jun-2009 to Jun-2010
Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & Air Zealand
This resulted in a 3.2 ppts increase in load factor to 82.7%.
Air New Zealand group PLF: Jun-2009 to Jun-2010
Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & Air New Zealand
Yields still below 2008 levels
Air New Zealand's yields have shown some signs of improvement in recent months, although year-to-date group-wide yields remain down 7.1% year-on-year. Group yields in Jun-2010 decreased 1.9% year-on-year, according to CAPA estimates, building on a 4.9% reduction in Jun-2009. Comparatively, yields were in positive territory in 2008.
Air New Zealand group yield growth (% change year-on-year): Jul-2008 to Jun-2010
Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & Air New Zealand
Long-haul yields were down 7% year-on-year last month (after being flat in Jun-2009) while short-haul yields were flat in Jun-2010 (after slumping 10.5% in Jun-2010), with both short and long-haul yields remaining below 2008 levels as a result. The carrier has also focused on investing in enhancing its long-haul product, including its premium economy and skycouch economy offerings, which the airline believes will drive a yield premium.
Air New Zealand short-haul and long-haul yield growth (% change year-on-year): Jul-2008 to Jun-2010
Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand-Virgin Blue announce trans-Tasman alliance
During the month, Air New Zealand reduction capacity (ASKs) on Tasman/Pacific routes by 3.4% with capacity also reduced domestically, by 1.3%. The carrier increased capacity in all other regions.
CEO, Rob Fyfe, has continually commented that the Tasman/Pacific markets are challenging, with "intense competition" and "unstable" market conditions.
As a result, Air New Zealand and Virgin Blue Airlines Group, in May-2010, announced their intention to seek regulatory approval to create an alliance on the trans-Tasman markets linking Australia and New Zealand. The proposed alliance will connect regional centres in Australia and New Zealand, but only as part of a Tasman journey and does not include domestic-only travel in either Australia or New Zealand. Air New Zealand CEO, Rob Fyfe stated the alliance, if approved, will be "one of several measures to improve the airline's competitive position on the trans-Tasman in the face of the Qantas Group's two-airline move for regional dominance".
Conditions in the domestic New Zealand market have also been tough, as rival LCCs expand their footprints. Mr Fyfe has reiterated his view that the domestic New Zealand market is too crowded and one competitor would be forced to drop out, earlier identifying Pacific Blue's domestic operation as "unsustainable".
Air New Zealand has also previously indicated more capacity will be added to the domestic market as it battles to contain Qantas/Jetstar's renewed onslaught. This is likely to maintain the pressure on its short-haul yield profile in coming months.