Traffic Results of Austrian Airlines for April 2014: Capacity Utilization Surpasses the 80 Percent Threshold

ˇ April 2014: capacity utilization up 4.2 percentage points
ˇ 21.7 percent passenger growth on long-haul routes
ˇ January to April 2014: capacity utilization up 1.5 percentage points

The Austrian Airlines Group carried more than one million passengers in the month of April 2014, which comprises a rise of 8.2 percent from the prior-year level. This increase can be mainly attributed to the strong growth of passenger volume on flights to North America. Amongst other factors, the Easter holidays were in April this year instead of in March as in 2013. Capacity was increased by 10.8 percent. Revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) were up by 16.9 percent. As a result, capacity utilization (passenger load factor) improved by 4.2 percentage points from the previous year to 80.7 percent.

In the period January to April 2014, Austrian Airlines carried more than 3.2 million passengers, corresponding to an increase of 0.7 percent year-on-year. The offering measured in available seat kilometers (ASK) was raised by 3.2 percent. Revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) rose by 5.2 percent. As a consequence, capacity utilization of the flights in the first four months of 2014 was up by 1.5 percentage points to 76.1 percent.

“We held up quite well in a difficult market environment. We carry more passengers and increase our capacity utilization, in spite of the reduced demand in the crisis regions of the Middle East, Russia and Ukraine”, explains Karsten Benz, Chief Commercial Officer of Austrian Airlines. “Our offering to North America also developed gratifyingly, especially our flight service to Chicago.“

Europe
In April 2014, Austrian Airlines carried about 849,600 passengers in Europe, corresponding to a rise of 6.1 percent from the prior-year level. The passenger load factor was raised by 2.6 percentage points to 78.8 percent.

In the period January to April 2014, more than 2.7 million passengers flew with Austrian Airlines in Europe. This comprises a drop of 0.1 percent compared to the previous year. The passenger load factor was up by 0.3 percentage points to 72.8 percent.

Intercontinental
In April 2014, Austrian Airlines carried a total of about 153,200 passengers on its intercontinental flights or 21.7 percent more passengers than in April of 2013. The passenger load factor rose by 5.6 percentage points to 82.4 percent.

In the period January to April 2014, more than 507,700 passengers were carried on intercontinental flights operated by Austrian Airlines. This represents a rise of 5.4 percent year-on-year. The passenger load factor was up by 2.3 percentage points to 79.1 percent.