International Airlines Group reports strong April traffic increase

International Airlines Group (IAG) reports (06-May-2011) the following consolidated traffic highlights in Apr-2011:

• Passenger numbers: 4.4 million, +17.5% year-on-year;
  • Domestic (UK and Spain): 918,000, -4.2%;
  • Europe: 1.9 million, +24.9%;
  • North America: 692,000, +32.3%;
  • Latin America and Caribbean: 395,000, +25%;
  • Africa and Middle East: 339,000, +12.1%;
  • Asia Pacific: 121,000, +30.3%;
• Passenger load factor: 79.7%, +1.7 ppts;
  • Domestic (UK and Spain): 75.3%, +5.0 ppts;
  • Europe: 74.7%, +1.7 ppts;
  • North America: 83.1%, +2.6 ppts;
  • Latin America and Caribbean: 81.9%, -0.1 ppt;
  • Africa and Middle East: 76.3%, +1.1 ppts;
  • Asia Pacific: 79.8%, -0.5 ppt;
• Cargo traffic (FTKs): +19.8%. 

IAG stated group premium traffic for the month of April grew by 40.0% compared with the previous year, with 22.6% growth in non-premium traffic". Its shares gained 3.3%.

SAS' shares soared 10.6% as it reported the following traffic highlights in Apr-2011:

• Passenger numbers: 2.2 million, +44.1% year-on-year;
  • Scandinavian Airlines: 1.9 million, +40.3%;
  • Wideroe: 196,000, +57.3%;
  • Blue1: 169,000, +81%;
• Passenger load factor: 74.4%, +4.7 ppts;
  • Scandinavian Airlines: 75.5%, +5.1 ppts;
  • Wideroe: 60.5%, +6.0 ppts;
  • Blue1: 66.6%, +2.1 ppts.

SAS stated: "During Mar-2011, currency adjusted RASK was down 3.4% and yield was down 0.1%, in line with guidance. The improvement in yield compared with previous months reflects a positive mix, especially on the new added capacity. For Apr-2011, passenger yield (change vs last year) is expected to be in line with March, but due to improvement in the load factor in April as a result of ash cloud effects, RASK (change) is expected to be even higher."

Selected European airlines daily share price movements (% change): 06-May-2011