Traffic Results of Austrian Airlines for May 2013: Slight Rise in Capacity Utilization

· January to May 2013: passenger load factor up to 74.8 percent
· May 2013: increase in capacity utilization to 75.4 percent

The number of passengers carried by the Austrian Airlines Group in the period January to May 2013 declined by 3.6 percent from the previous year to approximately 4.2 million. This is due to the 8.6 percent reduction in capacity. Within the context of the fleet harmonization programme, the fleet was streamlined by four medium-haul aircraft. In addition, up to two long-haul aircraft were taken out of service in the period January to May 2013, and are being equipped with the new cabins tailored to long-haul flights. Revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) were down by 6.2 percent in the period January to May 2013. As a result, capacity utilization (passenger load factor) improved overall
by 1.9 percentage points to 74.8 percent.

Considering the month of May 2013 in itself, Austrian Airlines carried about 998,900 passengers, comprising a decline of 3.6 percent. The underlying reason for this decrease is that capacity in available seat kilometers (ASK) was reduced by 4.1 percent. Austrian Airlines had two fewer aircraft in operation in May 2013 than in the prior year. However, revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) fell by only 3.6 percent. As a result, capacity utilization climbed by 0.4 percentage points from the prior-year level to 75.4 percent.

“We had two fewer aircraft in operation in May than in the previous year, and several changes were also made to the destinations we fly to“, says Karsten Benz, Chief Commercial Officer Austrian Airlines. “In the last month we have cancelled unprofitable routes and this year in May with Chicago we have launched a new long haul destination again. The increase in capacity utilization shows that we are offering on the market precisely what is in demand”.

Europe
In May 2013, a total of 867,300 passengers flew with Austrian Airlines in Europe. This comprises a decline of 2.8 percent from the prior-year level. However, the passenger load factor could be increased by 1.5 percentage points to 75.3 percent.

In the period January to May 2013, Austrian Airlines carried more than 3.6 million passengers in Europe, corresponding to a decline of 2.6 percent. In contrast, the passenger load factor during this period rose by 3.0 percentage points to 73.1 percent.

Intercontinental
In May 2013, the number of passengers carried on intercontinental flights amounted to 131,500, a decline of 8.8 percent. Accordingly, the passenger load factor was down 0.6 percentage points to 75.5 percent.

In the period January to May 2013, Austrian Airlines carried a total of 613,100 passengers on its intercontinental flights, a drop of 9.1 percent from the previous year. Accordingly, the passenger load factor climbed 1.0 percentage point to 76.5 percent.