Flybe: FY2015 result goes down - and up - but shows progress with restructuring

Flybe reported a pre-tax result for FY2015 in line with expectations, confirming that its restructuring is starting to have a positive impact. Confusingly, the reported FY2015 result fell into loss after having recovered in FY2014, but this was blurred by a series of non-recurring/non-operating items. Flybe also reported what it calls an "illustrative" pre-tax result, by which measure its profit grew and this more closely reflects the progress made under CEO Saad Hammad.

Passenger unit revenue grew, driven by capacity cuts and sharp load factor gains, stimulated by falling yield. However, revenue from contract flying and charter operations fell and the increase in underlying profit owed much to unit cost reduction.

Flybe also signed a contract flying agreement for SAS and sold its stake in its Finnish joint venture. Moreover, it made progress with a number of other legacy issues, including exiting from its Embraer E175 order and securing additional used Bombardier Q400 aircraft. A key outstanding issue is finding a solution to its surplus E195 aircraft. In FY2016, it must aim for an improved result without having to rearrange the numbers.