Austrian Airlines traffic result for 2010

January 12, 2011
In 2010 Austrian Airlines carried approximately 10.9 million passengers, an increase of 9.7 percent compared to the previous year. The passenger load factor rose by 2.8 percentage points to hit 76.8 percent. Austrian Airlines launched a new market strategy at the end of March 2010 with a significantly more offensive position in the scheduled traffic market − first and foremost in Europe than in the past. The members of the Austrian Airlines Executive Board, Andreas Bierwirth and Peter Malanik, said the following: We hit our target and carried approximately one million more passengers than in the previous year − even against the background of the EU capacity restrictions and external difficulties such as the volcanic ash crisis and the partially chaotic conditions at European airports in December. And that shows: Our new market strategy is taking hold. Together with the measures we have implemented on the costs side, we have built a strong basis, to achieve our target result for 2011 a positive result from operating activities − despite the fact that the market environment is still difficult. Our job now is to continue with our steadfast efforts to restructure the company.

Austrian Airlines carried 724,900 passengers in December 2010, an increase of 4.5 percent in the same month of the previous year, despite of the difficulties caused by the winter chaos. The load factor for flights in December, at 72.4 percent, was 0.2 percentage points below the figure for the same month in 2009. In the fourth quarter, Austrian Airlines carried more than 2.5 million passengers. This is 7.2 percent more passengers than in the fourth quarter of the previous year. The load factor improved by 0.8 percentage points to reach 75.4 percent.

Europe
In December, around 582,400 passengers flew with Austrian Airlines within Europe. This is the equivalent of an increase of 6.2 percent compared to the same month the previous year. The load factor rose to 70.1 percent, an increase of 7.4 percentage points. Austrian Airlines reduced capacity measured in available seat kilometers (ASK) by 5.7 percent, and increased revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) by 5.5 percent.

In the fourth quarter, Austrian Airlines carried some 2 million passengers, or 10 percent more than in the same period the previous year. The load factor was 72.9 percent, the equivalent of a rise of 6.8 percentage points. Austrian Airlines reduced the ASK by 0.9 percent. The figure for RPK rose by 9.2 percent.

From January to December, around 8.5 million passengers flew with Austrian Airlines. This is 15.3 percent more than last year. The load factor was 72 percent, the equivalent of a rise of 4.6 percentage points. The figure for ASK rose by 6.9 percent. RPK rose by 14.2 percent.

Intercontinental
In December, 125,700 passengers flew with Austrian Airlines in the intercontinental segment. This is the equivalent of an increase of 3.1 percent compared to the same month the previous year. The load factor fell by 6.7 percentage points to 74.8 percent. Austrian Airlines increased ASK by 12.1 percent. RPK rose by 2.9 percent.

In the fourth quarter, Austrian Airlines carried 410,200 passengers, or 3.1 percent more than in the same period the previous year. The load factor fell by 4.8 percentage points to 77.3 percent. Austrian Airlines increased the ASK by 7.8 percent. RPK rose by 1.5 percent.
From January to December, around 1.7 million passengers flew with Austrian Airlines. This is 4.7 percent more than last year. The load factor was 80.5 percent, the equivalent of a rise of 2.4 percentage points. The figure for ASK remained the same. RPK rose by 3.2 percent.

Charter
As a result of the capacity restriction set by the EU, Austrian Airlines had to reduce its ASK in the charter business segment. Seen in this context, the Group’s charter business (operated by Lauda Air) performed well in 2010.

The figures in detail: From January to December, the passenger figure fell by 24.9 percent to 731,800. The load factor fell by 0.8 percentage points to 80.1 percent. Austrian Airlines reduced the ASK by 25.4 percent. RPK fell by 26.1 percent.

In December, 16,800 passengers flew in the charter segment. This is 29.1 percent less than in the same month the previous year. The load factor fell by 9.5 percentage points to 59.8 percent. Austrian Airlines reduced capacity measured in available seat kilometers (ASK) by 28.3 percent. RPK fell by 38.1 percent.

In the fourth quarter, 87,700 passengers were carried in the charter segment. This is 23.1 percent less than in the same period of the previous year. The load factor fell by 3.1 percentage points to 77.3 percent. Austrian Airlines reduced the ASK by 27.8 percent. RPK fell by 24.8 percent.

Source: Austrian Airlines Group