AirAsia reports 'record' 2Q results; SpiceJet up 20% in Jul-2010; Skymark holiday traffic soars 35%
AirAsia, the Asia Pacific region's largest LCC, has proven its staying power in a slow but recovering market in 2Q2010, turning in what it describes as a "record quarter" for second quarter revenues. The carrier commented that the result builds on the "momentum of its first quarter profits" and sets the stage for a "potentially dynamic" second half.
- AirAsia reports a 43% increase in net profit and a 25.8% gain in revenue in 2Q2010, setting the stage for a potentially dynamic second half.
- AirAsia's passenger traffic increases by 11% and load factors improve by 2 percentage points in Malaysian operations.
- AirAsia is working on a proposed venture in Vietnam, potentially providing operational and management services to Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company.
- SpiceJet witnesses a 20.3% increase in domestic passenger numbers in July 2010, becoming the fourth largest carrier in the Indian domestic market.
- IndiGo receives approval from the Indian Government to purchase 150 aircraft for international services.
- Tiger Airways shareholders sell SGD125 million in shares, while Skymark experiences a 35% jump in domestic passenger numbers over the peak summer period.
AirAsia reported a 43% increase in net profit in the second quarter (three months ended Jun-2010) to USD63 million, and a 25.8% gain in revenue to a record USD299 million, as a recovering economy boosted passenger traffic (+11% to 3.9 million for Malaysian operations), load factors (+2 ppts to 77%) and average fares (+8% to USD54.70). Profit before tax rose a more modest 4%, while EBTIDAR was up 9%.
AirAsia shares have risen by 24% since the start of the year, below Tiger Airways' 26.5% rise but outperforming the Malaysian benchmark KLSE's 8.3% increase. The carrier's shares were down 1.8% ahead of the result.
In other AirAsia news, the LCC confirmed it is working with Sovico Holdings Joint Stock Company to develop a suitable structure for the proposed venture in Vietnam. It includes the option of AirAsia initially providing operational and management services to Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company for a prescribed period before an investment is made.
SpiceJet handled 540,000 pax in Jul-2010; load factor of 77%
Meanwhile, shares in SpiceJet slipped 0.3% yesterday. On the same day, the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation reported that SpiceJet witnessed a 20.3% increase in domestic passenger numbers in Jul-2010 to 540,000, to be the fourth largest carrier in the domestic market, behind Kingfisher (815,000, -1.7%), Jet Airways (782,000, +14.8%) and Air India (708,000, +21.6%). Overall domestic passenger numbers increased 13.5% to 4.1 million. SpiceJet load factors stood at 76.8% in the month.
IndiGo receives approval to purchase 150 aircraft
In other Indian news, non-listed LCC, IndiGo, reportedly received approval from the Indian Government to purchase 150 aircraft over the next two to three years to be used on international services. The carrier will have completed five years of operations in Aug-2011 making it eligible to launch international services.
Tiger Airways shareholders sell SGD125m in shares
Meanwhile, Tiger Airways shareholders sold approximately SGD125 million (USD93 million) in the carrier's shares, at a price of SGD1.90 per share. CEO, Tony Davis, Ryanasia Ltd and Indigo Partners LLC sold 65.8 million shares combined. Shares in the carrier slipped 1.0% yesterday.
Skymark pax soar over peak summer period
Meanwhile, Skymark shares soared 6.0% yesterday. The carrier witnessed a 35% jump in domestic passenger numbers over the peak summer vacation period, between 06-Aug-2010 and 15-Aug-2010, to 129,489 passengers, despite overall passenger numbers slipping 1% to 2.7 million.
Selected LCCs daily share price movements (% change): 18-Aug-2010
Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, Yahoo! Finance & Reuters