Air Berlin passenger numbers up 0.8%, RASK down in Dec-2009

Air Berlin passenger numbers* up 0.8% - traffic highlights:

• Dec-2009:
  • Passenger numbers: 2.1 million, +0.8% year-on-year;
  • Load factor: 73.1%, +0.5 ppt;
  • Revenue per ASK: EUR 4.98 cents, -6.5%;
• 12 months ended 31-Dec-2009:
  • Passenger numbers: 27.9 million, -3.9%;
  • Load factor: 77.3%, -1.0 ppt;
  • Revenue per ASK: EUR 5.75 cents, +7%. [more]

*Includes TUIfly, which the carrier acquired on 25-Oct-2009

Air Berlin: "In 2009, Air Berlin transported a total of 27.9 million passengers (including those travelling on the TUIfly routes acquired on 25-Oct-2009), thus confirming the company's spring 2009 forecast with respect to the development in the number of passengers travelling with Air Berlin. The 2009 figure corresponds to a decrease of 3.9% in comparison with the previous year. One of the reasons for this decline is that the accumulated capacity was reduced by 2.6%. Despite the difficult market environment, fleet capacity utilisation in 2009 reached 77.3%, a decline of only one percentage point. Revenue per available seat kilometer (ASK) increased to EUR 5.75 cents, i.e. a 7% increase over the previous year," Company statement. Source: Air Berlin, 11-Jan-2010.