Cimber Sterling and Norwegian report improved passenger numbers, but reduced yields
European carriers' shares were led higher on Friday (05-Mar-2010) by Nordic airlines reporting traffic results for Feb-2010, despite a rise in oil prices (+0.4%), to USD81.18. Wider markets also pushed airline shares higher, with markets up on easing concerns over Greece's debt issues and a smaller than expected decline in US jobs for Feb-2010. Markets rose to a six-week high as a result.
In key markets, UK's FTSE (+1.3%), France's CAC (+2.1%) and Germany's DAX (+1.4%) were all up at the end of trading.
Cimber Sterling and Norwegian report improved passenger numbers, but reduced yields
Cimber Sterling (+10.8%) shares soared after the carrier reported an 8 ppts year-on-year increase in load factor, to 65%, to Feb-2010. Passenger numbers also rose, up 25%, to 174,334.
However, yield for Jan-2010 was down a massive 39%, EUR 13.30 cents. This performance covers a "significant" change in the product offering in the two comparative periods caused by a "sharp decrease in the share of leisure traffic", according to Cimber Sterling. The yield for the Leisure segment increased by 26%, while yield for domestic operations dropped by 29%, which was partially offset by a 29 ppts load factor increase from 52% to 72%. The yield for the regional segment dropped by 5%.
Meanwhile, competitor, Norwegian Air Shuttle (+5.3%) also witnessed a rise in its share price, after also reporting a 25% increase in passenger numbers, to 834,884. However, load factor was down 2 ppts, to 76%.
Like Cimber Sterling, Norwegian's yields for Feb-2010 also dropped, declining 16% for the month, to EUR 6.23 cents - less than half Cimber's yield. Norwegian stated the reduction reflects significant adjustments to its route portfolio, the introduction of new aircraft with higher capacity and lower unit cost, and the removal of fuel surcharges that covered the record high fuel prices of 2008. Revenue per ASK was also down, falling 19%, to EUR 4.77 cents.
SAS up marginally
SAS Group (+0.4%) meanwhile reported weak traffic for Feb-2010 and yield results for Jan-2010. The group reported a 0.3% rise in passenger numbers for Feb-2010, to 1.8 million. However, load factor results were more impressive, rising 5.0 ppts for the month, to 66.9%.
Yield for Jan-2010 declined 14%, however, when measured against ASK, the decline was approximately 8-9%, as the improved load factor partly compensated for the lower yield per RPK. SAS noted that its yield results for Jan-2009 and Feb-2009 were "positive".
For Feb-2010, the change in yield is also expected to be negative, as the market continues to be unpredictable.
Air Berlin yields up
In Germany, Air Berlin (-0.2%) slipped despite reporting a 3.3% rise in revenue per ASK, to EUR 5.51 cents. Passenger numbers also rose, increasing 3.1%, to 2.0 million. However, load factor was relatively flat, decreasing only 0.3 ppts, to 70.6%.
Also affecting shares on Friday:
- Aer Lingus (+0.4%) pax down 3.5%, load factor also down in Feb-2010;
- SAS (+0.4%) seeking shareholder approval for debt refinancing;
- Lufthansa (+1.8%) pilots see "no reason" to strike while negotations remain "constructive";
- Turkish Airlines (+2.9%) applies to capital markets board for capital ceiling raise.
More on these stories and more can be found in today's issue of Europe Airline Daily.
Europe selected airlines daily share price movements (% change): 05-Mar-2010
Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & Yahoo! Finance