Tag Archives: Airbus A320-214 WL

Edelweiss unveils a new “help alliance” logo jet

2022 "Help Alliance" special livery

Edelweiss Air has unveiled a new “help alliance” livery on ex-Swiss Airbus A320-214 HB-JLT (msn 5518).

The red nose and the red paint on the tail have been replaced with countless red hands. The hands symbolize the helping hands of the Lufthansa Group’s “help alliance“.

help alliance, the charity of the Lufthansa Group, supports people all over the world who lack the most basic necessities of life. The core focus is on school and vocational education as a key for effective poverty alleviation. But help alliance is also committed to other topics, including health, food, work and income.

The airline continues;

Within the scope of our collaboration with help alliance, we are introducing the OnBoardCollection on our flights. Our passengers have the opportunity to donate their left-over foreign coins or make donations in Swiss francs during their flight – in keeping with the motto “small change – big help”. Lean administrative structures, funded by generous donations of the Lufthansa Group, allow for 100% of the donations (after currency conversion) to go straight towards the project work.

Top Copyright Photo: Edelweiss Switzerland (Edelweiss Air) Airbus A320-214 WL HB-JLT (msn 5518) (Help Alliance) ZRH (Andi Hiltl). Image: 958065.

Edelweiss aircraft photo gallery:

MYAirline of Malaysia takes delivery of its first Airbus A320

New airline from Malaysia, will become 9M-DAC

MYAirline (MYAirline.my) (Kuala Lumpur) is a new low-cost airline in Malaysia.

The new airline has taken delivery of this Airbus A320 via Honolulu. The pictured ex-Frontier (Finn – The Tiger Shark) N220FR (msn 5661) will become 9M-NAC.

The upstart is planning to launch scheduled operations with three Airbus A320s. Two additional A320s (ex-Thai AirAsia HS-ABK msn 4088, and HS-ABL msn 4126) are being leased from Aircastle.

Top Copyright Photo: MYAirline – MYAirline.my Airbus A320-214 WL N220FR (9M-DAC) (msn 5661) HNL (IVan K. Nishimura). Image: 957763.

Air Arabia (UAE) expands into Turkey with new routes

Air Arabia (airarabia.com) (UAE) Airbus A320-214 WL A6-ANZ (msn 6166) ALA (Rob Finlayson). Image: 934120.

Air Arabia (UAE) (Sharjah) is expanding.

The carrier will start the Sharjah – Antalya, Turkey route on July 1, 2022.

In addition, the carrier will also commence the Sharjah – Bodrum, Turkey route also on July 1, 2022.

Top Copyright Photo: Air Arabia (airarabia.com) (UAE) Airbus A320-214 WL A6-ANZ (msn 6166) ALA (Rob Finlayson). Image: 934120.

Air Arabia (UAE) aircraft slide show:

Air Arabia (UAE) aircraft photo gallery:

Eurowings cooperates with Smartwings as it opens its new Prague base

Eurowings (Europe) Airbus A320-214 WL OE-IQB (msn 7012) PMI (Ton Jochems). Image: 955731.

Eurowings has made this announcement:

Eurowings is cooperating with Smartwings, the leading Czech airline. Both airlines have made a codeshare agreement to market flights. In the future, selected Eurowings connections operating from its new base in Prague will also be offered under Smartwings flight numbers and sold on smartwings.com and its other sales channels. Smartwings customers will thus benefit from the growing number of direct connections offered by the Lufthansa Group airline from the Czech capital. During the Covid crisis, Prague lost numerous direct connections to attractive destinations in Europe that are now being successfully re-established.

The first Eurowings codeshare flights with Smartwings will take off from Prague just a few weeks after Eurowings starts operations in the “Golden City”. By opening a new base in the Czech capital, Eurowings is expanding its services in Central Europe.

As of October 31, 2021, Eurowings in now connecting Prague with 14 new European destinations.

By summer 2022, the Lufthansa Group airline will station three Airbus A320 aircraft, including local crews, in the Czech capital. Flights will be operated by Eurowings Europe, Eurowings’ pan-European flight operation.

Top Copyright Photo: Eurowings (Europe) Airbus A320-214 WL OE-IQB (msn 7012) PMI (Ton Jochems). Image: 955731.

Eurowings Europe aircraft slide show:

Eurowings Europe aircraft photo gallery:

Eurowings now also speaks Czech as it opens its new base in Prague

Eurowings Airbus A320-214 WL D-AEWK (msn 7261) (Kvarner) LHR (SPA). Image: 955665.

Eurowings has made this announcement:

Just in time for the launch of its new base in Prague, Eurowings now welcomes its customers in Czech: Czech travelers can now book flights in their national language at eurowings.com/cz, take advantage of the offers in the Eurowings Savings Calendar or, for example, be inspired by the flight schedule to new destinations – all conveniently in Czech.

Shortly after the booking launch, Germany’s largest vacation airline has already sold many thousands of tickets in the Czech Republic, both in individual seat sales and via local tour operators. Eurowings will open a new base in the Czech capital at the end of October 2021 and initially offer 14 new direct connections for vacationers and business travelers from there.

The new website in Czech once again underscores the airline’s “local touch” in Prague. By summer 2022, Eurowings will station three aircraft in the Czech capital and hire local crews. The jobs advertised at the new base have met with great interest on the Prague job market, with more than 6,000 applications received in recent weeks. The Lufthansa subsidiary, which specializes in low-cost European direct flights, had launched an application process for crews at its eleventh location in late summer to fill around 100 cockpit and cabin positions locally.

The Cologne/Bonn-based company combines Lufthansa’s DNA with a value-for-money concept and innovative customer services: these include industry-leading health and hygiene concepts as well as the option of booking free middle seats in the rear rows of aircraft for as little as ten euros – whether for comfort or hygiene reasons. This option has already been sold more than 50,000 times after a short time and has become a bestseller on Eurowings flights.

Top Copyright Photo: Eurowings Airbus A320-214 WL D-AEWK (msn 7261) (Kvarner) LHR (SPA). Image: 955665.

Eurowings aircraft slide show:

Eurowings aircraft photo gallery:

Eurowings opens a base in Stockholm, Sweden

  • Lufthansa Group value carrier will operate five Airbus A320 aircraft from Stockholm and add 150 crew members for the start-up 
  • Eurowings set to be the new Swedish business and vacation airline / operations will launch in March 2022
  • It will start with 20 low-cost direct flights to major European cities like Berlin, Barcelona, and Rome, as well as many holiday destinations like Palma de Mallorca
  • Eurowings CEO Jens Bischof: “We will attract many Swedish vacationers and business travelers with our cutting-edge services.”

Eurowings is further developing its European network to Scandinavia with the opening of its new location in Stockholm. The popular German airline is offering new services in Scandinavia and will initially station five Airbus A320 aircraft in Stockholm by March 2022. This will be the eleventh Eurowings base of operations in Europe and the fifth outside its home market of Germany after Palma de Mallorca, Prague, Pristina, and Salzburg.

For the first time, the Lufthansa Group value carrier will offer attractive direct connections from Scandinavia to business and vacation destinations throughout Europe. With its increased presence in the Nordics, Eurowings will not only provide better connections to and from Sweden, but especially flights to popular beach destinations in Southern Europe for Swedish customers. The latest Eurowings base at Stockholm’s Arlanda airport also brings hundreds of new jobs to the region and – in what is hopefully the final phase of the Corona pandemic – an important stimulus for employment in the Scandinavian aviation market.

Eurowings flies from Stockholm to 20 European locations for the first time starting on March 27, 2022. The first published routes to and from Stockholm include popular Southern European sun destinations: Palma de Mallorca, Alicante and Malaga in Spain, Faro in Portugal, and Nice in Southern France. Other attractive destinations Eurowings will initially fly to include Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Copenhagen, Birmingham, Gdansk, and Pristina. Further destinations will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets can be booked shortly via eurowings.com and the Eurowings app. Tickets are already available for booking starting at SEK 299 (29.99 euros) for a one-way flight.

Eurowings Airbus A320-214 WL D-AEWG (msn 7121) (Visit Sweden - Goteborg) ZRH (Andi Hiltl). Image: 955079.

Above Copyright Photo: Eurowings Airbus A320-214 WL D-AEWG (msn 7121) (Visit Sweden – Goteborg) ZRH (Andi Hiltl). Image: 955079.

Eurowings aircraft slide show:

Eurowings takes off to Malaga, Alicante and Catania from Dortmund

Germanwings' 2016 "Borussia Dortmund Mannschaftsairbus" (Team Airbus) logo jet

Eurowings made this announcement:

A triple premiere at Dortmund Airport: Germany’s leading holiday airline Eurowings took off on June 2 for the first time to the new destinations MalagaAlicante and Catania.

The flights are part of Eurowings’ significantly expanded range of attractive holiday destinations in the 2021 summer flight schedule and complement the existing Eurowings connections to the popular holiday island of Majorca and to Split.

Further first flights are scheduled for the coming days to NaplesHeraklion and Kavala. Eurowings will take off to the island of Rhodes on July 2. For the period of the North Rhine-Westphalia summer holidays, Eurowings is planning 280 departures from Dortmund with a capacity of more than 48,000 seats.

As part of its expanded summer program, Eurowings is now stationing a second aircraft in the Ruhr metropolis. In particular, the “BVB Mannschafts-Airbus” – a photo motif known throughout Europe due to its special black and yellow livery – will be a regular guest at its official home airport in the Ruhr region. Already the evening before, the “BVB Mannschafts-Airbus ” was welcomed with a water fountain by the airport fire brigade upon its arrival in Dortmund. The Airbus A320 with the registration “D-AIZR” took off full of holiday-hungry passengers to the new summer destination Alicante.

The Eurowings summer destinations 2021 at a glance

Dortmund-Munich up to 11 times a week

Dortmund-Split up to twice a week

Dortmund-Majorca up to 16 times weekly

Dortmund-Alicante up to twice weekly

Dortmund-Malaga up to twice weekly

Dortmund-Catania up to three times weekly

Dortmund-Naples up to twice weekly

Dortmund-Heraklion up to three times a week

Dortmund-Kavala up to twice weekly

Dortmund-Rhodes twice weekly

Top Copyright Photo: Eurowings Airbus A320-214 WL D-AIZR (msn 5525) (BVB 09 – Mannschaftsairbus) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 934497.

Eurowings aircraft slide show:

Dortmund becomes the official home airport of the “BVB Mannschafts-Airbus“

Germanwings' 2016 "Borussia Dortmund Mannschaftsairbus" (Team Airbus) logo jet

Eurowings has made this announcement:

Eurowings is strengthening Dortmund: In the 2021 summer flight schedule, the Lufthansa subsidiary is significantly expanding its services and offering travelers from Dortmund six additional attractive holiday destinations in Spain, Italy and Greece. The new tourist destinations Alicante, Malaga, Catania, Naples, Heraklion and Kavala complement the existing connections that Eurowings already successfully operates to Lufthansa’s hub in Munich as well as to Split and Mallorca. Eurowings has expanded its connections to the popular Balearic island in particular.

“BVB Mannschafts-Airbus“ regular guest in Dortmund

To serve the expanded summer program, Eurowings will station a second aircraft in the Ruhr metropolis from June 2021. In this context, the “BVB Mannschafts-Airbus” –  a photo motif known throughout Europe due to its special black and yellow livery – will also be a regular guest in Dortmund in the future and take off from its home airport in the Ruhr region. This means that BVB fans from the Ruhr region will have the opportunity to meet “their plane” even more often than in the past.

“Dortmund is not only the home of our partner Borussia Dortmund, it is also where the roots of Eurowings lie,” said Eurowings CEO Jens Bischof. “That’s why we feel a particularly close bond with this aviation location and are expanding our flight offerings with all due caution. In doing so, we are strictly adhering to our industry-leading hygiene concept. Together with all Dortmund residents, we are pleased that the BVB Mannschafts-Airbus can now take off from here more frequently.”

Free middle seat bookable on all Eurowings flights from Dortmund

As on all Eurowings flights, passengers can reserve a free middle seat also from Dortmund in advance for as little as 10 euros and book it online at eurowings.com. The free middle seat can also be booked subsequently via the call center or even shortly before departure at the check-in counter. A reservation is possible as long as there are still enough seats available on the booked flight. If a passenger opts for the offer, the free seat is blocked with the booking and thus guaranteed not to be allocated elsewhere.

The 2021 summer destinations from Dortmund at a glance

Germany
Dortmund-Munich up to 11 times a week

Croatia
Dortmund-Split up to twice a week

Spain
Dortmund-Mallorca up to 16 times a week
NEW from June 2: Dortmund-Alicante up to twice a week
NEW from June 2: Dortmund-Malaga up to twice a week

Italy
NEW from June 2: Dortmund-Catania up to three times a week
NEW from June 4: Dortmund-Neapel up to twice a week

Greece
NEW from June 1: Dortmund-Heraklion up to three times a week
NEW from June 3: Dortmund-Kavala up to twice a week

In other news, Eurowings has integrated health data collection into the digital travel chain:

Available immediately on all Eurowings flights from Germany to Spain: Eurowings is integrating a new offer for particularly flexible, time-saving and safe travel in times of Corona. Passengers flying from Germany to Spain can now use the new health data solution “myHealth Docs” to conveniently check with just a few clicks whether they have all the necessary entry documents for their upcoming flight – such as an online registration as well as a negative Corona test.

The digital solution “myHealth Docs” was already successfully tested by many passengers on an Eurowings flight from Cologne/Bonn to Palma de Mallorca over the Easter weekend. In a further step, the airline has now extended the new service to all flights from Germany to Spain – additional flight connections as well as functions, such as uploading negative test results, are being planned.

Usage of the newly integrated “myHealth Docs” health data solution

To use the new service, Eurowings passengers check in for their flight as usual via the Eurowings customer app. In a next step, they can use the newly integrated solution “myHealth Docs” to fill out a digital health self-disclosure, which is required for entry in times of pandemic. This includes, for example, answering a couple of health questions, confirming the existence of the online registration for Spain as well as the existence of a negative Corona test. Based on this data, the digital boarding pass is automatically generated – with the additional note that all mandatory entry documents are complete.

Considerable time saving and reduction of physical contacts

By using “myHealth Docs”, passengers benefit from considerable time savings as they can easily see at a glance which documents are required: Thus, all passengers are well prepared for their flight, which in turn saves time at the check-in. Moreover, within the framework of the Lufthansa Group’s leading hygiene concept, this ensures that physical contacts at the airport are reduced to a minimum.

With the integration of “myHealth Docs” into the Eurowings customer app, Eurowings takes a further step in the digitalization of required entry documents, thus facilitating travel in times of pandemic.

Eurowings hygiene concept

The obligation to wear a protective medical mask continues to apply on Lufthansa Group flights to and from Germany. Passengers are obliged to wear either a surgical mask or an FFP2 mask or mask with the KN95/N95 standard during boarding, the flight and when leaving the aircraft. An exemption from this obligation to wear a mouth-nose mask during the flight is only possible for medical reasons if the medical certificate is issued on a form provided by the Lufthansa Group and a negative Covid19 test is available that is not older than 48 hours at the scheduled start of the journey.

In principle, infection on board is very unlikely. All aircraft of the Lufthansa Group are equipped with the highest-quality air filters, which ensure an air quality similar to that in an operating room. In addition, the air circulates vertically – instead of being distributed throughout the cabin – and is thus completely exchanged every two to three minutes. Furthermore, all Eurowings customers benefit from automatically included Corona travel protection when they choose a travel insurance policy of their choice with the airline.

Finally, Eurowings is planning to fly to Russia and Georgia for the first time:

Starting in summer with Eurowings nonstop to Russia and Georgia: the airline launches three new direct connections starting in July, flying its passengers from Düsseldorf to Russia for the first time – to Ekaterinburg and Krasnodar in Southern Russia – as well as to the Georgian capital Tbilisi.

The flights expand the range in the “Visit Friends and Relatives” segment, in which the Lufthansa subsidiary already offers numerous flights to Greece, Croatia, Algeria and Turkey, for example. Most recently, connections to Beirut in Lebanon and Erbil in northern Iraq were added to the Eurowings program in December. Eurowings is the leader in this market segment and is increasingly expanding its position in response to growing demand. As a result, even more travelers benefit from direct connections to their home countries.

The new routes will be operated by an Airbus A320.

Eurowings flights to Russia

From Düsseldorf to Krasnodar

From July 19, passengers will fly directly from Düsseldorf to Krasnodar in Southern Russia. Flights will be operated on Mondays and Fridays, each followed by a return flight

Monday: DUS – KRR, 11:45 a.m. – 4:55 p.m.; KRR – DUS, 6:15 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Friday: DUS – KRR, 07.15 a.m. – 12.25 p.m.; KRR – DUS, 13.45 p.m. – 17.00 p.m.

From Düsseldorf to Ekaterinburg

Starting July 24, Eurowings takes it passengers from Düsseldorf to Ekaterinburg every Saturday morning. The return flight leaves in the afternoon of the same day, touching down in Düsseldorf in the evening.

Saturday: DUS – SVX, 11:10 a.m. – 6:50 p.m.; SVX – DUS, 7:40 p.m. – 9:55 p.m.

Flights to Georgia

From Düsseldorf to Tbilisi

Starting July 21, Eurowings will connect Düsseldorf with the Georgian capital Tbilisi. On Wednesdays and Sundays, an Airbus A320 will take off from the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia to Georgia. Return flights to Düsseldorf are also offered on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Wednesday: DUS – TBS, 11:45 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; TBS – DUS, 6:50 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Sunday: DUS – TBS, 07.15 a.m. – 1.30 p.m.; TBS – DUS, 2.20 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.

All flight times are local times.

Top Copyright Photo: Eurowings Airbus A320-214 WL D-AIZR (msn 5525) (BVB 09 – Mannschaftsairbus) LHR (SPA). Image: 941520.

Eurowings aircraft slide show:

Allegiant announces its first agreement with the Teamsters

Allegiant Air Airbus A320-214 WL N252NV (msn 7868) BFI (Nick Dean). Image: 949885.

Allegiant Air today announced that the company and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), representing Allegiant’s workforce of maintenance technician and related employees, have reached an agreement in principle on all remaining open issues for the first collective bargaining agreement between the parties. The agreement in principle is subject to finalization between the parties and ratification by the employee group, which includes line and heavy maintenance technicians as well as stores employees and some administrative maintenance staff.  A ratification vote is expected to occur by the end of July, 2021. Allegiant currently employs 415 maintenance technician and related employees.

The process of negotiating a first collective bargaining agreement for Allegiant maintenance technician and related employees began in January 2019. The parties had temporarily suspended negotiations early in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but talks resumed in September.  The International Brotherhood of Teamsters was most recently certified as the group’s exclusive representative on March 7, 2018.

Top Copyright Photo: Allegiant Air Airbus A320-214 WL N252NV (msn 7868) BFI (Nick Dean). Image: 949885.

Allegiant Air aircraft slide show:

easyJet expects a first half loss before tax in the range of £690 to £730 million

Promoting easyJet holidays

easyJet (UK) released this financial statement:

Summary

easyJet has operated a disciplined flying program over the winter months whilst continuing to deliver a major restructuring and cost reduction program.  As a result, easyJet expects a first half headline loss before tax in the range of £690 to £730 million, which is slightly better than expectations.  The effects of the cost-out program will support improved margins and reduce seasonality for the future.  Our capacity forecasting has been accurate and disciplined throughout the pandemic, which has allowed for strong cost control.  Our focus on cash generative flying over the winter season has minimized cash burn, with cash burn in the second quarter better than guidance.

As at 31 March 2021 easyJet has unrestricted access to c.£2.9 billion of liquidity having raised over £5.5 billion since the beginning of the pandemic1, and is well positioned to capitalize on the recovery of travel once restrictions are eased across the network. 

easyJet has maintained a high level of operational flexibility to respond to rapidly-changing travel restrictions.  We will continue to operate a reduced schedule throughout much of Q3 but are ready to ramp up our operations to match the level of demand we see in the market.

 

Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said:

 

 easyJet has maintained a disciplined approach to flying during the first half of our financial year, resulting in a first half loss and cash burn better than expectations.  We continue to have access to significant levels of liquidity alongside easyJet’s major cost-out program which continues to deliver ongoing cost and efficiency benefits.  All of this positions us well to lead the recovery.

 

“We welcome the confirmation by the UK Government that international travel is on track to reopen as planned in mid-May.  easyJet was founded to make travel accessible for all and so we continue to engage with Government to ensure that the cost of the required testing is driven down so that it doesn’t risk turning back the clock and make travel too costly for some. 

 

“We continue to closely monitor the situation across Europe and with vaccination programs accelerating, most countries are planning to resume flying at scale in May.  We have the operational flexibility to rapidly increase flying and add destinations to match demand.  easyJet is ready to resume flying, prepared for the ramp up and looking forward to being able to reunite people with their families or take them on leisure and business flights once again.  As a result, we remain well-positioned for the recovery this summer and beyond.”

 

 

Revenue

Passenger numbers2 for the six months ending 31 March 2021 decreased by 89% to 4.1 million, in line with a decrease in capacity3 to 6.4 million seats, representing 14% of H1 2019 capacity levels. This led to total group revenue for the six months ending 31 March 2021 decreasing by c.90% to c.£235 million, with passenger revenue decreasing by c.91% to c.£165 million and ancillary revenue decreasing by c.87% to c.£70 million.

 

 

Cost & Cash Burn

Group headline costs excluding fuel for the first half decreased by c.59% to c.£845 million, driven by a decrease in capacity flown and the material savings achieved across many areas of the business from easyJet’s major cost-out program.  easyJet maintained a disciplined approach to capacity and cash management and as a result, total cash burn during the second quarter was c.£470 million, which is better than previous guidance.

 

The structural cost-out program we announced last year, easyJet’s largest ever, is on track to achieve our targeted cost savings and will position easyJet well to lead the recovery in aviation.  

 

 

Capacity

During the first half easyJet flew 14% of H1 2019 capacity, in line with our expectations.  Our capacity forecasting has been accurate and disciplined throughout the pandemic, which has helped deliver strong cost control. 

 

January

2021

February 2021

March 2021

Q2

2021

Passengers (thousand) 2

456

367

405

1,228

Seats flown (thousand)

787

612

663

2,062

% of 2019 capacity flown

12%

9%

8%

9%

Load factor 4

58%

60%

61%

60%

 

 

Network

easyJet remains disciplined in focussing on profitable flying.  Our operations, financial and commercial teams are running dynamic schedule updates, on a regular basis, in order to capitalize on all available demand.  We retain significant operational flexibility to enable us to capture pent-up demand and are able to ramp up flying quickly when demand returns. 

 

 

Flexibility

easyJet’s market-leading flexible customer policies are driving trust and confidence to book.  We are offering more flexibility than ever before.  Our Protection Promise for both flights and holidays means that customers can book now with the confidence that if their plans change, so can their booking.

 

 

Ancillaries

Ancillary revenues represent a significant opportunity for easyJet to increase revenue per seat and margins in the coming years. 

 

In January easyJet launched a new fare class called Standard Plus, which is performing well.  Our new cabin bag policy came into effect in February and early indications show that this is also on track relative to our revenue expectations, as well as having a positive effect on our On Time Performance metrics.  The ability to bring a large overhead cabin bag on board is now bundled with Up front and Extra legroom seating.  The seating and bag packages are actively yield managed and dynamically priced from £7.99. 

 

 

Balance Sheet & Liquidity

easyJet has taken swift and decisive action successfully raising over £5.5 billion in liquidity since the beginning of the pandemic1, from a diversified range of funding sources. 

 

In March easyJet’s subsidiary easyJet FinCo B.V. issued a €1.2 billion bond under our Euro Medium Term Note (EMTN) program.  The bond matures in March 2028 and has a coupon of 1.875%.  There was good market appetite for the bond, which was heavily oversubscribed.  easyJet continues to maintain access to a diverse range of funding sources and continues to review its debt maturity profile. 

 

As at 31 March 2021 easyJet has unrestricted access to c.£2.9 billion of liquidity, comprising cash and cash equivalents, money market funds, money market deposits plus the undrawn portion of the UKEF facility.  The first £300 million tranche of easyJet’s borrowings from the CCFF was repaid in March 2021 and the remaining £300 million is due in November 2021.  easyJet has no other debt maturities outstanding until FY 2023. 

 

We retain ownership of 56% of the total fleet, with 41% unencumbered.  Sale and leaseback transactions on 23 aircraft were concluded during H2 2020, raising £608 million gross proceeds and adding c.£50 million to pro forma per annum headline costs.  During H1 2021 transactions were concluded on 35 aircraft, raising £842 million gross proceeds and adding a further c.£90 million to pro forma per annum headline costs. 

Photo: IG/speedbirduk

As previously indicated, easyJet will continue to review its liquidity position on a regular basis and will continue to assess further funding opportunities.

 

 

Fuel & FX hedging

Due to the sustained lower capacity expected for several months ahead, easyJet has continued to see hedge ratios moving over 100% from both a jet fuel and FX perspective.  To mitigate the effects of this, easyJet has taken action to close out over-hedge positions, to mitigate its exposure to volatility in the fair value of discontinued hedges.  easyJet continues to hedge contractual exposures (such as leases and capex) and has decreased the amount of operational hedging that is taken out for future periods until there is greater clarity around exposures.

 

 

Non-Headline Items

Non-headline items for the six months ending 31 March 2021 are expected to reflect a net c.£55 million credit.  This is comprised principally of gains related to sale and leaseback transactions, with a net charge related to fuel hedge discontinuation being largely offset by a release of restructuring provisions.  The release of restructuring provisions is based on current expectations of our latest discussions with unions, on which we will provide a further update at the half year results.  This will be subject to review by our auditors. 

 

 

Outlook

Based on current travel restrictions in the markets in which we operate, easyJet expects to fly up to 20% of 2019 capacity levels in Q3 with an expectation that capacity levels will start to increase from late May onwards.  We maintain significant flexibility to ramp capacity up or down quickly depending upon the unwinding of travel restrictions and expected demand across our European network. 

 

The group headline loss before tax for the six months ending 31 March 2021 is expected to be in the range of £690 to £730 million. 

 

The group reported loss before tax is expected to reflect the positive impact of the non-headline items discussed above. 

 

easyJet will release half year results for the six months ending 31 March 2021 on 20 May 2021. 

 

At this stage, given the continued level of short-term uncertainty, it would not be appropriate to provide any further financial guidance for the 2021 financial year.  Customers are booking closer to departure and visibility remains limited. 

 

 

KEY H1 FINANCIALS

 

Six months ended

31 March 2021

31 March 2020

Change

Fav./(adv.)

Number of flights

35,100

244,235

(85%)

Peak operating aircraft

161

318

(49%)

Passengers (thousand) 2

4,086

38,566

(89%)

Seats flown (thousand)

6,412

42,702

(85%)

Load factor 4

63.7%

90.3%

(26.6ppts)

Total group revenue (£ million)

c.235

2,382

(90%)

Passenger revenue (£ million)

c.165

1,833

(91%)

Ancillary revenue (£ million)

c.70

549

(87%)

Total group headline cost (£ million)

(c.940)

(2,575)

64%

Group headline profit/(loss) before tax (£ million)

(690-730)

(193)

(497-537)

Top Copyright Photo: easyJet holidays (easyJet UK) Airbus A320-214 WL G-EZOA (msn 6412) LGW (Robbie Shaw). Image: 948409.

easyJet (UK) aircraft slide show: