SAS Group passenger numbers up in Dec-2011, load factor down

SAS Group reports (11-Jan-2012) the following traffic highlights:

• Dec-2011:
  • Passenger numbers: 1.9 million, +1.7% year-on-year;
    • Scandinavian Airlines: 1.6 million, +2.6%;
    • Wideroe: 186,000, +4.4%;
    • Blue1: 121,000, -12.6%;
  • Passenger load factor: 70%, -3.0 ppts;
    • Scandinavian Airlines: 70.9%, -2.8 ppts;
    • Wideroe: 54.9%, -3.1 ppts;
    • Blue1: 65.5%, -7.2 ppts;
• 12 months ended Dec-2011:
  • Passenger numbers: 27.2 million, +7.8%;
    • Scandinavian Airlines: 22.9 million, +6.4%;
    • Wideroe: 2.5 million, +19.1%;
    • Blue1: 1.8 million, +12.2%;
  • Passenger load factor: 73.4%, -0.7 ppt;
    • Scandinavian Airlines: 74.6%, -0.6 ppt;
    • Wideroe: 59.8%, +0.2 ppt;
    • Blue1: 65.1%, -2.8 ppts. [more – original PR]

SAS: “During November 2011, currency adjusted yield was down by 1.5% versus previous year and RASK was down 3.8% as expected. For December 2011, (change vs last year), the yield and RASK are expected to be more negative than for November.” Source: Company statement, 11-Jan-2012.

You may also be interested in the following articles...

• Blue1 to become feeder for SAS' Copenhagen and Stockholm hubs in move against Finnair and Norwegian
  05-Jan-2012

  SAS subsidiary Blue1 will undergo network changes that will see it drop its non-Scandianvan European routes in order to bolster services from secondary Finnish cities.

  This will allow the SAS group to build greater feed into its Copenhagen Kastrup and Stockholm Arlanda hubs, a competitive move against Finnair and its Helsinki hub, as well as LCC Norwegian Air Shuttle and its Scandinavian hubs.

  This development is only the first in what will be a number of changes across the group’s carriers up to 2015 under the new strategy as SAS seeks to become a more formidable force. Meanwhile low-cost carrier Norwegian Air Services continues to grow and threaten SAS’ dominance in the Nordic market.

• CAPA India Outlook 2012/13: Critical uncertainty prevails. Possible Air India shutdown
  23-May-2012

  Indian aviation is facing its most uncertain phase in more than a decade. After reporting an estimated record loss of just over USD2 billion[1] in the 12 months ended 31-Mar-2012, India’s airlines are facing an equally challenging year ahead. Weak balance sheets, increasing costs, regulatory uncertainty, a sluggish Indian economy and a difficult global environment will continue to pile the pressure on airlines, especially the poorer performing carriers. However, this may in turn create market opportunities to exploit for those that are better positioned. Some of the key highlights of the CAPA India Outlook 2012/13, to be released on 31-May-2012, include:

  - Indian domestic capacity growth of 7-8% in FY2012/13, traffic to grow 8-10%

  - India’s airlines expected to post a combined loss of USD1.3-1.4 billion

  - Jet Airways to prosper; major aircraft order expected

  - Kingfisher Airlines revival dependent on foreign airline investment