Airberlin: Turbine on maximum thrust, but FY2013 breakeven target abandoned. More cash from Etihad?

Airberlin delivered a 14% year-on-year increase in EBIT in 3Q2013, recording a positive quarter for the first time this year. The quarter also saw airberlin's first reduction in unit costs (CASK) this year, reflecting good progress in the cost-cutting aspects of its Turbine restructuring programme.

However, the quarter also saw airberlin's weakest RASK performance of 2013 and profits were not sufficient to restore a positive equity position to its fragile balance sheet. As a result mainly of a weak pricing environment, it has abandoned its previous FY2013 target for a breakeven EBIT result and set a softer target for year-end net debt reduction.

Airberlin CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer told analysts on the 3Q conference call that the relationship with Etihad was for the long term and that it "gives us time really to restructure the company properly". This commitment looks likely to be tested again soon.