Corona: AUA plans to restart, the time is still open

According to AUA, 132 passengers were on board the OS 066 course. Most of the passengers returned home because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The machine with the license plate OE-LAX and the name “Salzburg Festival“touched down on runway 11. Then the Boeing, which offers space for 211 passengers, to parking position F01.

The flight went smoothly, said a young Austrian APA. Some flight attendants wore protective masks, as did some passengers. In Vienna all arrivals were checked for fever.

Results 2019 significantly worse, but still positive

The published on Thursday AUA the results for 2019. In the morning the board will give a press conference.

Despite tough competition from low-cost airlines and large excess capacity, the Lufthansa subsidiary was able to operate in the past financial year 2019 Vienna generate an adjusted EBIT of EUR 19 million. In 2018, it was 83 million euros. 14.7 million passengers flew with Austria’s flag carrier last year, more than ever despite the highly competitive environment. Expected for 2020 Austrian Airlines a very challenging year. The corona virus leads to the most difficult crisis in the history of aviation.

“Despite tough competition, we were able to close the past year positively, as we stepped on the brakes on costs over the course of the year,” says Austrian Airlines CFO Wolfgang Jani.

The results in detail

Total revenues decreased by two percent to € 2,181 million, as did sales, which also decreased by two percent to € 2,108 million. The operating expenses are in the whole year despite higher fuel costs, which increased by 12% or EUR 52 million to EUR 494 million, only increased by one percent to 2,164 million euros. In the course of the year, expenses could be reduced with an earnings protection program, in the fourth quarter alone by 8%.

Adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (Adjusted EBIT), the most important key figure in the Group, decreased by 77% or EUR 64 million to EUR 19 million. As a result, the adj. EBIT margin fell from 3.8% to 0.9%. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), which also includes valuation gains from aircraft (parts) sales, has decreased by 84% or EUR 76 million from EUR 91 million to EUR 15 million.

Around 700,000 more passengers

Austrian Airlines has carried 14.7 million passengers in 2019, which means another passenger record since it was founded in 1957. Around 700,000 or five percent more guests are with in 2019 Austrian Airlines flown. The offer measured in offered seat kilometers (ASK) was increased by three percent. Nevertheless, the company managed to sell the increased offer better: The occupancy (= passenger factor) of 80.8% was also significantly above the previous year (79.3%) and reached the best value in the company’s history.

Austrian Airlines CCO Andreas Otto: “The numbers show that our product is well received, the customers are loyal to us and the control works very well.”

Austrian Airlines completed 139,230 flights with 82 aircraft in 2019. That’s an average of around 380 flights a day. The regularity was a pleasing 99.0 percent (+1 percentage point), the punctuality of arrival was 80.6 percent, an increase of 1.5 percentage points compared to the previous year.

Job cuts, short-time work

The strategy program # DriveTo25 announced in January remains valid despite the Corona crisis. In short, it is about achieving the ability to invest. Investable means that the company can make the necessary investments itself. 700 to 800 of a total of just under 7000 jobs are to be cut. The airline has already applied for short-time work.

Lufthansa state aid

The Lufthansa Group is cutting back its flight program even more than previously known due to the corona virus crisis. By April 19, only about five percent of the originally planned flights would take place, the AUA mother said on Thursday when the annual balance sheet was presented Frankfurt With. Around 700 of the Group’s 763 aircraft remained on the ground for the time being.

“The longer this crisis continues, the more likely it is that the future of aviation cannot be guaranteed without state aid, “said Spohr. The board will forego 20 percent of its basic salary this year.

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