SAS Group passenger numbers up 10.9% in Dec-2010

SAS Group reports (11-Jan-2011) the following traffic highlights:

• Dec-2010:
  • Passenger numbers: 1.8 million, +10.9% year-on-year;
    • Scandinavian Airlines: 1.5 million, +8.6%;
    • Wideroe: 178,000, +18.4%;
    • Blue1: 138,000, +30.5%:
  • Load factor: 73%, +3.3 ppts;
    • Scandinavian Airlines: 73.7%, +3.1 ppts;
    • Wideroe: 58%, -0.5 ppt;
    • Blue1: 72.7%, +8.7 ppts.
• 12 months ended Dec-2010:
  • Passenger numbers: 25.2 million, +1.3%;
    • Scandinavian Airlines: 21.5 million, +0.7%;
    • Widroe: 2.1 million, +3.7%;
    • Blue1: 1.6 million, +7.1%:
  • Load factor: 74.2%, +3.3 ppts;
    • Scandinavian Airlines: 75.2%, +3.5 ppts;
    • Wideroe: 59.7%, -0.8 ppt;
    • Blue1: 67.9%, +2.7 ppts. [more]

SAS Group: "RASK during November was up 1.2% reflecting improvement in the load factor and positive cargo development. Yield was down 8.4% but adjusted for the increase in stage length due to more intercontinental capacity the yield was down 5-6%. The passenger yield and RASK in December are expected to continue the trend with flattish RASK development but continued yield pressure. The market remains unpredictable particularly regarding the yield development due to overcapacity in certain markets, but due to improved load factors RASK has been relatively stable," Source: Company statement, 11-Jan-2011.