Turkish Airlines expected to return to profit; Aer Lingus enters mediation with cabin crew
European airline shares sunk for another day on Friday (20-Aug-2010), again pushed lower by weaker wider markets, which fell to their lowest close in a month. Markets were down on continued concerns about the strength of the economic recovery worldwide.
- European airline shares continue to decline due to weaker wider markets and concerns about the global economic recovery.
- Despite a 1.3% fall in oil prices, airline shares in the UK, Germany, and France ended the session lower.
- Turkish Airlines is expected to return to profit in 2Q2010, with an anticipated net income of USD97 million and an 18% increase in revenues.
- Cimber Sterling aims to return to profitability by the end of the 2010/2011 financial year.
- Aer Lingus enters mediation with cabin crew regarding rostering issues, with potential industrial action looming.
- Dart Group and Eurofly were the only gainers, while Vueling and Air France-KLM experienced declines in share prices.
The decline in airline shares was despite a 1.3% fall in oil prices to USD74.43.
In key markets, UK's FTSE (-0.3%), Germany's DAX (-1.2%) and France's CAC (-1.3%) all ended the session lower.
Turkish Airlines expected to return to profit
Banks and brokerage companies expect Turkish Airlines (+0.4%) to return to profit in 2Q2010, according to Gulf Daily News. On average, the companies expect the carrier to report net income of USD97 million on an 18% year-on-year increase in revenues for the quarter (to USD1.3 billion), compared with a loss of USD35 million in the previous corresponding period.
The carrier previously reported a 14% year-on-year rise in passenger numbers for the quarter to 7.2 million.
See related CAPA Profile: Outlook, Forecasts, Guidance
Cimber Sterling expecting to return to profitability in FY2010-11
Cimber Sterling (-2.1%) declined despite CEO, Jacob Krogsgaard, stating the carrier has managed to offset the dramatic events over the past financial year and is confident of meeting the goal of returning to profitability by the end of the 2010/2011 financial year.
Aer Lingus enters mediation with cabin crew
Aer Lingus (-2.4%) was also down. The carrier and its cabin crew entered mediation with the Irish Labour Relations Commission on rostering issues during the day. Cabin crew are due to commence industrial action on 25-Aug-2010 unless the mediator issues a binding decision on new rosters.
See related CAPA Profile: Industrial Relations
Elsewhere, Dart Group (+1.1%) and Eurofly (+0.9%) were the only other gainers of the day, while Vueling (-3.1%) and Air France-KLM (-3.1%) suffered declines.
Europe selected airlines daily share price movements (% change): 20-Aug-2010
Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, Yahoo! Finance & Reuters