Commercial revenue fell 8.3 per cent to €541m at IAG Cargo in the first half of 2013 compared to a year earlier. However, it managed to maintain its overall yield.
The figure reflects a fall in volumes which were down at 2,756 million cargo tonne kilometres (CTKs) – a decrease of 8.4 per cent on the first half of 2012. Cargo capacity was down 2.7 per cent.
Overall yield (commercial revenue per CTK) remained flat – excluding the effect of exchange brings this to a 0.9 per cent increase.
Managing director Steve Gunning said: “These results reflect the overall weak market conditions, particularly across the North Atlantic, and Iberia’s capacity reduction which affected our volumes in the first half of the year. Given these operating circumstances, we are pleased with our yield performance.
“Our progress on integration is delivering clear benefits to customers who have welcomed both the range and accessibility of the distribution channels now on offer. Additional commercial initiatives, such as our first ever worldwide sale and our premium product promotion through iagcargo.com, are working well to support the development of the business and build awareness of our extended network.”
Overall, IAG produced an operating profit of €245m for the first half compared to a loss of €4m in the first half of 2013.
Chief executive Willie Walsh said: “Several factors have contributed to this improvement. Firstly, the benefits of Iberia’s restructuring are beginning to show. Having reduced capacity at Iberia in the first quarter, costs began to be taken out in the second quarter following the implementation of the mediator’s proposal.
“Nearly 1,700 employees have left the airline so far with remaining staff taking salary reductions of 18 per cent for flight and cabin crew and 11 per cent for all other employees. This is the first step in the restructuring but it is already bearing fruit with Iberia’s losses down from €93 million last year to €35 million reversing the negative trend of the last 11 quarters.”
“British Airways’ performance has improved with operating profit up from €94 million in 2012 to €247 million. The London market and transatlantic traffic remains strong, legacy costs from the bmi integration have ended and the airline remains focused on cost control.”
