Lufthansa and SWISS lift load factors
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Passenger traffic for the Lufthansa Group was again defined in August by the ongoing weak market environment, the effects of last year’s strikes, the consolidation of British Midland (bmi) and increased demand in the holiday month. Available seat-kilometres for the Group rose by a total of 7.2 per cent; without the bmi consolidation effect there was an increase of 0.1 per cent. Sales went up by 9.0 per cent overall; without bmi the increase was +2.1 per cent. The load factor for the whole network improved as a result to 83.5 per cent (+1.4 pp; without bmi: 83.7%). Especially in Europe capacity increased (+14.0%) due to the consolidation of bmi but was met by equivalent market demand (+19.2%). In the Americas traffic region too, capacities were slightly up on last year. Here the passenger load factor improved thanks to stronger demand (+2.5%) to 89.4 per cent (+1.5 pp). In contrast, the Group reduced available seat-kilometres to Asia (-4.2%), while demand contracted slightly by 0.3 per cent. The passenger load factor rose as a result to 87.2 per cent (+3.3pp).
The Lufthansa Passenger Airlines carried 0.4 per cent more passengers than in the same month last year, increasing sales by 3.2 per cent. The available seat-kilometres increased by 1.0 per cent, so that the load factor improved by 1.7 percentage points to 83.0 per cent. Only in Europe did sales fall, by 1.2 per cent, but Lufthansa Passenger Airlines cut their capacities by a much greater 4.6 per cent. Sales in all long-haul regions were higher than last year. Here too, the differentiated capacity management showed effect. 1.6 per cent higher capacity to America was met by 3.4 per cent higher sales. Capacity to Asia remained reduced by -2.1 per cent, while sales rose slightly by 1.8 per cent. The Middle East/Africa region was again characterised by the strategic expansion of the network. Available seat-kilometres went up by 35.6 per cent and sales climbed by 24.5 per cent. This meant that load factors improved in all regions apart from Middle East/Africa.
SWISS was able to improve its load factor to 87.3 per cent in total (+1.6 pp) in August. While increased capacity of 3.3 per cent was fully sold in Europe (+6.8%), on long-haul routes SWISS continued to cut capacity (-7.9 per cent). Sales fell less steeply (-6.4%), meaning that the load factor for the intercontinental network rose to a very strong 90.9 per cent (+1.4 pp).
At Lufthansa Cargo there were still no signs of a fundamental improvement in market conditions in August. Sales rose by 2.1 per cent, but this reflects the basis effect of a sharp fall in volumes last year. Lufthansa Cargo therefore continued to reduce capacity in August (-6.8%). The cargo load factor rose as a result to 66.1 per cent (+5.8 pp).
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