CAPA News Briefs

Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport reported (18-Apr-2019) the following traffic highlights for Mar-2019:

• Passengers: 3.7 million, -3.5% year-on-year;
  • Domestic: 2.3 million, -3.4%;
  • International: 1.3 million, -3.8%;
• Top 10 nationalities travelling through Sydney Airport:
  • Australia: -3.1%;
  • China: -12.7%;
  • US: +11.0%;
  • New Zealand: -0.2%;
  • UK: -10.6%;
  • South Korea: +7.3%;
  • Japan: +4.0%;
  • India: +1.7%;
  • Canada: -2.2%;
  • Germany: 5.0%. [more - original PR]

United Airlines EVP and CFO Gerald Laderman reported (17-Apr-2019) the airline expects the following results for 2Q2019 and FY2019:

• 2Q2019:
  • Capacity: +3.5% to +4.5%;
  • CASM Ex: Flat to +1%;
  • Fuel price: USD2.13 to USD2.23;
  • Adjusted pre tax margin: +11% to +13%;
• FY2019:
  • Capacity: +4% to +5%;
  • CASM Ex: Flat;
  • Adjusted diluted earnings per share: USD10 to USD12;
  • Adjusted CapEx: USD4.7 billion. [more - original PR]

Brazil ANAC stated (17-Apr-2019) Avianca Brazil will return eight additional aircraft to lessors in the near future, commencing 22-Apr-2019. The airline will return seven aircraft to GECAS and one aircraft to PK AirFinance. [more - original PR - Portuguese]

Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH reported (17-Apr-2019) the following traffic highlights:

• Mar-2019:
  • Passengers: 2.9 million, +11.8% year-on-year;
    • Berlin Tegel: 2.0 million, +25.1%;
    • Berlin Schönefeld: 965,580, -8.1%;
  • Cargo: 2787 tonnes;
    • Berlin Tegel: 1708 tonnes;
    • Berlin Schönefeld: 1079 tonnes;
  • Aircraft movements: 24,253;
    • Berlin Tegel: 16,142;
    • Berlin Schönefeld: 8111;
• Three months ended Mar-2019:
  
  • Passengers: 7.9 million;
    • Berlin Tegel: 5.3 million;
    • Berlin Schönefeld: 2.6 million;
  • Cargo: 7911 tonnes;
    • Berlin Tegel: 4777 tonnes;
    • Berlin Schönefeld: 3134 tonnes;
  • Aircraft movements: 68,611;
    • Berlin Tegel: 45,789;
    • Berlin Schönefeld: 22,822. [more - original PR - German]

AirAsia Group announced (17-Apr-2019) its wholly owned subsidiary AirAsia Investment, Gumin Company and Hai Au Aviation amicably agreed to terminate and release each other from all obligations under the transaction agreements in relation to their proposed JV in Vietnam, effective 17-Apr-2019. AirAsia Group stated it remains interested in operating a LCC in Vietnam due to the country's favourable geographical location, expanding aviation market and overall growth potential. [more - original PR]

AirAsia Group reported (17-Apr-2019) shareholders approved the disposal of 100% equity interest in its Merah Aviation entities to AS Air Lease Holdings 5T DAC, an entity indirectly controlled by Castlelake. As previously reported by CAPA, Merah Aviation Asset Holding comprises 25 aircraft to be leased to AirAsia. AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes, via his official Twitter account, commented: "Selling our aircraft monetises all our aircraft at high prices and avoids residual risk and allows us to return cash to shareholders and invest in our new digital business". [more - original PR]

Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) reported (17-Apr-2019) visitor arrivals to Japan for Mar-2019. Details include:

• Total foreign visitors: 2.8 million, +5.8% year-on-year;
  • China: 691,300, +16.2%;
  • South Korea: 585,600, -5.4%;
  • Taiwan: 402,400, +3.9%;
  • US: 176,600, +17.0%;
  • Hong Kong: 171,400, -12.4%;
  • Thailand: 147,400, +26.8%;
  • Malaysia: 50,600, +6.2%;
  • Philippines: 48,300, -13.9%;
  • Vietnam: 47,900, +35.9%;
  • Australia: 44,200, -6.9%;
  • Singapore: 43,700, +14.7%;
  • Indonesia: 39,600, +22.1%;
  • UK: 38,600, +6.0%;
  • France: 29,400, +16.1%;
  • Germany: 28,700, +15.2%;
  • India: 17,800, +28.7%
  •  
• Japanese departures: 1.9 million, +6.8%. [more - original PR - Japanese]

NAV CANADA reported (16-Apr-2019) an average increase in traffic, as measured by weighted charging units, of 0.7% year-on-year for Mar-2019. NAV CANADA also reported over its 2019 fiscal year (01-Sep-2018 to 31-Aug-2019) traffic has seen a 2.9% increase year-to-date. [more - original PR]

European Commission (EC) launched (17-Apr-2019) a public consultation on a preliminary list of products from the US on which the EU may take countermeasures in the context of the ongoing Boeing dispute at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The public consultation will last until 31-May-2019. The list covers a range of items that represent around USD20 billion of US exports to the EU. In 2012, the EU made a request to the WTO to authorise the adoption of countermeasures worth up to USD12 billion, equivalent to the estimated damage caused to Airbus by the US support to Boeing. According to the EC, the WTO's 11-Apr-2019 final compliance report in the Boeing dispute confirmed US subsidies to Boeing continue to cause significant harm to Airbus, including lost sales. The public consultation aims to gather feedback from stakeholders who may be affected by the planned measures. [more - original PR]

Jet Airways announced (17-Apr-2019) plans to temporarily suspend all services, effective 17-Apr-2019 until an as yet unannounced resumption date. The airline, on 16-Apr-2019, stated: "Jet Airways was informed by the State Bank of India (SBI), on behalf of the consortium of Indian Lenders, that they are unable to consider its request for critical interim funding. Since no emergency funding from the lenders or any other source is forthcoming, the airline will not be able to pay for fuel or other critical services to keep the operations going". Jet Airways "will now await the bid finalisation process by SBI and the consortium of Indian Lenders" for the purchase of an up to 75% stake in the airline. As previously reported by CAPA, the deadline for the tender is 10-May-2019. [more - original PR]

IATA reported (17-Apr-2019) the following key highlights from its Mar-2019 Airlines Financial Monitor:

• 4Q2018 data confirm that the fall in profit margins slowed compared to 3Q2018. The outcome is mixed at the regional level. North America and Asia Pacific carriers recorded less intense profit squeeze, but the trend was opposite for European carriers, which did not benefit from falling oil prices due to high hedging ratios. Initial 1Q2019 information indicates an improvement for North America profit margins but less so for Europe;
• Global airline share price developments underperformed the wider equities market in Mar-2019 amid uncertainty about jet fuel price developments and the direction of industry profitability;
• OPEC supply cuts and US sanctions on Venezuela and Iran pushed crude oil and jet fuel prices higher in Mar-2019. Crude oil is around USD71 per barrel while jet fuel is close to USD84 per barrel, in both cases the highest level since Nov-2018;
• Global base fare yields eased in Jan-2019, after a short lived improvement in Dec-2018. With premium cabin yields ticking up modestly, the difference between the premium and economy cabin yields continues to widen further in early 2019;
• Annual growth in industry wide RPKs moderated to 5.3% year-on-year in Feb-2019, down from 6.5% in Jan-2019. For freight, volumes were 4.7% lower, the weakest outcome of the past three years. [more - original PR]

Cardiff Airport reported (17-Apr-2019) the following operational highlights for FY2018/19:

• Handled 1,588,000 passengers, up 7% year-on-year, including busiest Christmas holiday period in eight years;
  • Travel on scheduled flights with Qatar Airways, Vueling, Ryanair, Flybe and KLM grew by 11%;
  • Travel on charter flights operated by TUI, Thomas Cook and Balkan Holidays grew by 5%;
• Qatar Airways commenced Doha-Cardiff regular service on 01-May-2019;
• Balkan Holidays, a specialist in package deals to Bulgaria, reported a 10% increase in bookings for summer 2018;
• Vueling passed a milestone of 800,000 passengers at the airport during Aug-2019;
• Unveiled improvements to the terminal, including an extended seating area in departures, a re-vamped 51° Lounge, new food and drink outlets and a new Meet & Greet car parking service. [more - original PR]