Aer Lingus (Dublin) record a first half 2013 pre-tax loss of $21.7 million, an increase of  272.7 percent from the smaller loss in the first half of 2012. However the flag carrier was able to record a pre-tax profit of $38.6 million in the second quarter but it was not enough to offset the larger loss in the first quarter.

The airline put a positive spin of the second quarter:

Christoph Mueller, Aer Lingus’ CEO, commented:

“Aer Lingus is pleased to report an excellent business performance for the first half of 2013. All key revenue metrics have trended positively with passenger numbers up 1.3%, load factor up 2.0 points and growth in fare revenue per seat across short and long haul.

Our Q2 2013 revenue performance was particularly strong. We expanded long haul capacity by 16.3% in the quarter and successfully sold the additional seats, achieving a load factor of almost 95% in June. Short haul continues to trade positively. However, the weakness in UK routes identified in our Q1 results has continued in Q2. The first half of our financial year is seasonally loss making and we are reporting an operating loss (before exceptional items) which is €12.0 million higher than the prior year. This performance reflects the impact of a number of one-off factors including the start up of our contract flying operations and planned changes to our long haul fleet.

We continue to focus on our cost base and are conscious that certain planned cost saving initiatives have not had effect as quickly as we had initially hoped. However, the voluntary severance program we outlined at Q1 seeking a headcount reduction of 100 has been oversubscribed with expressions of interest. We expect the benefits of this programme will start to take effect towards the end of the current year with full year effect in 2014.

Bookings for the remainder of the year at 30 June 2013 were ahead of prior year with Q3 long haul looking particularly positive. However, this booking profile has somewhat eroded over July due to the good weather. Nonetheless, we maintain our guidance that 2013 operating profit, before net exceptional items, will be broadly in line with 2012.”

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Read the analysis from the Irish Times: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: SM Fitzwilliams Collection/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-202 EI-DUO (msn 841) taxies at the the Dublin hub.

Aer Lingus: