LONDON: International Airlines Group soared back into net profit in
2013 on a strong performance from its British Airways unit and from
recently-acquired Spanish budget carrier Vueling, it said Friday.
Profits
after tax stood at 122 million euros ($167 million) last year also as
its main Spanish carrier Iberia narrowed losses, IAG said in a results
statement. IAG had suffered a net loss of 716 million euros in 2012.
Revenues grew 3.1 percent to 18.7 billion euros and fuel costs slid 2.5 percent to 5.95 billion euros.
"In
2013, we strengthened the group by acquiring Vueling, embarking on
Iberia's transformation and enhancing British Airways' revenue
performance," said chief executive Willie Walsh.
"This has led to a
strong financial recovery and return to profitability." Group operating
profit, stripping out taxes and one-off costs, stood at 770 million
euros compared with a loss of 23 million euros in 2012.
BA
benefited also from additional slots at London's Heathrow airport
following integration of bmi, the no-frills carrier that IAG purchased
in 2012 from German rival Lufthansa.
At the same time, Iberia slashed its operating loss to 166 million euros compared with 351 million euros last time around.
"Iberia
has made huge progress on cost control as its restructuring takes shape
and great credit should be given to all those involved," Walsh said.
He
added that recent pay agreements between Iberia and its pilot and cabin
crew unions were key to reducing the airline's costs further and
"providing the foundation for profitable growth".
Iberia employee costs down:
Last
year, Iberia's restructuring saw 2,500 staff leave the airline via a
voluntary redundancy programme, while salaries were reduced by between
11 percent and 18 percent.
As a result, Iberia's employee costs were down 14.3 percent compared with 2012.
London-listed
IAG also noted that Vueling was a "great asset" which had helped to
increase IAG's capacity by 5.2 percent, primarily in domestic and
European markets.
BA's capacity meanwhile increased by 2.0 percent
after the introduction of the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 into the
airline's fleet.
"The new aircrafts' economic and environmental performance has been excellent and customers love them," Walsh said.
Looking
ahead, IAG forecast that it would make "steady progress" this year
towards its 2015 group operating profit target of 1.8 billion euros.
Despite
the impressive annual results, IAG's share price sank on Friday as
investors took the opportunity to take profits after the stock almost
doubled in one year.
In afternoon deals, IAG shares price shed
3.27 percent to 437.02 pence on London's FTSE 100 index, which was 0.15
percent lower at 6,800.45 points.
"For now, IAG is progressing," said Keith Bowman, analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers.
"The removal of costs remains central, with labour productivity and aircraft fuel efficiency still topping the agenda.
"Passenger revenues have again grown, whilst expected growth from Asia and Africa remains firmly in management sights."
IAG
was formed in January 2011 when BA and Iberia merged in a tie-up that
was aimed at slashing costs. The group has 431 aircraft in service and
employs more than 60,000 people.
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