Traffic Results of Austrian Airlines for September 2013: Ongoing Upward Trend in Capacity Utilization

ˇ January to September 2013: rise in capacity utilization (passenger load factor) to 78.8 percent
ˇ September 2013: Two aircraft taken out of service results in reduction in total passenger volume – capacity utilization up to 83.3 percent
ˇ Refitting of long-haul fleet has been concluded – the entire long-haul fleet has been operating once again since mid-September

The Austrian Airlines Group carried about 8.6 million passengers in the period January to September 2013, corresponding to a decline of 1.8 percent from the prior-year level. The reason for this development is a targeted 4.5 percent reduction of capacity. Within the context of a fleet harmonization program, the domestic airline streamlined its fleet by up to five medium-haul aircraft. In addition, up to two long-haul aircraft were taken out of service in the period January to September 2013 to equip them with the new cabin. Revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) were down by 3.1 percent. Capacity utilization (passenger load factor) improved overall by 1.1 percentage points from the previous year to 78.8 percent.

Considering the month of September 2013 by itself, Austrian Airlines carried more than 1.1 million passengers. This comprises a decrease of 1.3 percent. This is due to the fact that the offering in available seat kilometers (ASK) declined by 0.4 percent. Austrian Airlines had up to two fewer aircraft in service in September compared to the prior-year month. Revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) declined by 0.2 percent. In contrast, capacity utilization rose by 0.1 percentage points to 83.3 percent. “After completing the refitting of the entire long-haul fleet, it has been fully operational again since the middle of September. We notice an increase in bookings for October, especially for the new Business Class”, says Karsten Benz, Chief Commercial Officer of Austrian Airlines.

Europe
In September 2013, a total of 961,400 passengers flew with Austrian Airlines in Europe. This comprises a drop of 0.4 percent compared to the previous year. The passenger load factor increased to 82.2 percent, a rise of 0.2 percentage points. In the period January to September 2013, Austrian Airlines carried about 7.4 million passengers in Europe, corresponding to a decline of 0.9 percent. In contrast, the passenger load factor during this period rose by 1.8 percentage points to 77.4 percent.

Intercontinental
In September 2013, the number of passengers carried on intercontinental flights declined by 6.5 percent from the previous year. On balance, a total of 147,200 passengers were carried by Austrian Airlines on its intercontinental flights in the month of September 2013. The passenger load factor was up by 0.1 percentage points to 84.3 percent. In the period January to September 2013, Austrian Airlines carried a total of approximately 1.2 million passengers on its intercontinental flights, a drop of 6.9 percent from the prior year. The passenger load factor climbed 0.5 percentage points to 80.3 percent.