AirAsia handles 4 million pax in 3Q2010; China Southern profit to surge in nine months to Sep-2010
Shares in AirAsia gained 4.7% as the carrier reported a 12.4% increase in passenger numbers to 4.0 million in the three months ended Sep-2010. Thai AirAsia handled 1.4 million passengers in the period (+8.8%) while Indonesia AirAsia handled 1.1 million passengers (+8.3%). Load factors for the three AirAsia branded airlines were in the 76-81% range.
China Southern expects net profit of USD49m in nine months to Sep-2010
Shares in China Southern also gained, up 3.4%, as the carrier stated it expects net profit for the nine months ended 30-Sep-2010 to surge 1400% year-on-year to CNY322 million (USD48.5 million) with earnings per share of CNY0.05, based on China Accounting Standards.
Kalanithi Maran purchases additional 2.28% stake in SpiceJet
Shares in SpiceJet slipped 3.3% yesterday after the carrier announced Sun TV founder Kalanithi Maran and his unlisted aviation firm, KAL Airways, acquired an additional 9.22 million shares or 2.28% stake in SpiceJet through an off-market transaction. Mr Maran's direct holding in the carrier now stands at 26.2%.
Air India largest carrier in domestic Indian market
In other SpiceJet news, the carrier handled 492,000 passengers in Sep-2010, a 6.7% year-on-year increase according to the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation. Air India was the largest carrier in the domestic Indian market in the month, with 731,000 passengers (+19.1%) although a combined Jet Airways/JetLite handled 1.0 million passengers (761,000 for Jet Airways, +37%; JetLite: 290,000, +7%). Kingfisher handled 773,000 passengers in the month. Shares in kingfisher increased 0.9% yesterday while Jet Airways shares slipped 0.8%.
Asia Pacific selected airlines daily share price movements (% change): 19-Oct-2010
Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, Reuters & Financial Times