Tag Archives: Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines Group’s net profit declines by 55.5% to S$126 million ($97.7 million), reports demand is flat

Singapore Airlines Group (Singapore Airlines, Scoot, SilkAir and Singapore Airlines Cargo) (Singapore) reported itsย net profit in the first half was down by $157 million (a decline of 55.5%) year-on- year to S$126 million ($97.7 million US).

The group issued this full statement:

GROUP FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

First Half 2014-15

The Group earned an operating profit of $171 million in the first half of the 2014-15 financial year, an improvement of $2 million (+1.2%) over the same period last year.

Group revenue was down $154 million (-2.0%) to $7,587 million, mainly due to lower incidental revenue stemming from reduced compensation pertaining to changes in aircraft delivery slots [see Note 2], and lower income from the lease of aircraft, due to the expiry of leases to Royal Brunei Airlines. Passenger revenue was lower year-on-year (-0.4%), notwithstanding a 1.4% increase in traffic, as a result of yield declines (-1.8%) amid the competitive operating environment and depreciating revenue-generating currencies, led by the Australian Dollar and Japanese Yen. Cargo revenue fell 1.6%, driven by a capacity cut (-3.8%), though this was partially compensated for by better yields and higher load factor.

Group expenditure at $7,416 million declined $156 million (-2.1%) over the previous financial year. Fuel costs after hedging fell $107 million, attributable to lower volume uplifted (-3.2%), the weaker US Dollar against the Singapore Dollar, and a 0.4% decline in jet fuel price after hedging.

Note 1: The SIA Groupโ€™s unaudited financial results for the half year and second quarter ended 30 September 2014 were announced on 6 November 2014. A summary of the financial and operating statistics is shown in Annex A. (All monetary figures are in Singapore Dollars. The Company refers to Singapore Airlines, the Parent Airline Company. The Group comprises the Company and its subsidiary, joint venture and associated companies).

Note 2: The settlement agreement was reached in Q1 FY1314 and $92 million was recognised in the first half of FY1314, of which $59 million pertained to change in prior years. $34 million compensation was recognised in the first half of FY2014-15.

Group net profit in the first half was down $157 million (-55.5%) year-on- year to $126 million. The share of results of associated companies fell $154 million, largely attributable to the Groupโ€™s share of Tiger Airwaysโ€™ loss of $129 million, which included material charges relating to the sublease of surplus aircraft and sale of Tigerair Australia. The commencement of equity accounting for Virgin Australia from the second quarter further contributed to the weaker results (-$16 million). Exceptional items accounted for a loss of $10 million in the first half, compared to a net exceptional gain of $22 million last year [see Note 3]. These were partly offset by higher gains on disposal of aircraft, spares and spare engines (+$31 million).

The Parent Airline Companyโ€™s operatingย against the corresponding period last year. Revenue was down $151 million (-2.4%), arising from reduced incidental revenue [see Note 2] and passenger revenue. The fall was nearly offset by a $148 million (-2.4%) reduction in expenditure, due to lower fuel costs after hedging, and stringent cost management. Unit ex-fuel cost was down 3.9% year-on-year.

SIA Engineeringโ€™s operating profit declined $19 million (-33.9%). Total revenue fell by $4 million (-0.7%) as a result of lower airframe and component overhaul revenue, offset in part by higher fleet management revenue. Expenses rose by $15 million (+2.8%), primarily as a result of an increase in subcontract services.

SilkAir’s operating profit declined $17 million (-77.3%), as weaker yields (-5.0%) put a drag on revenue and capacity injection (+3.7%) pushed operating expenditure up.

SIA Cargoโ€™s operating loss narrowed by $37 million from last year. With better capacity management, yields and load factor were up 1.9% and 0.2 percentage points, respectively.

Note 3: Exceptional items in the first half of FY1415 pertained to the Parent Airline Companyโ€™s provision for settlement with plaintiffs in the Transpacific Class Action ($11 million), SIA Cargo’s additional impairment on two marked-for-sale B747-400F aircraft ($7 million), partly offset by additional gain on sale of Virgin Atlantic Limited (VAL) to Delta Air Lines, Inc. ($7 million), and partial refund of fine on appeal from the Korean Fair Trade Commission ($1 million). Exceptional items in the first half of FY1314 was $22 million, mainly pertaining to gain on sale of VAL ($339 million), partially offset by SIA Cargoโ€™s impairment on four B747-400 aircraft removed from operation ($293 million) and SFCโ€™s impairment loss on its assets with the closure of its Maroochydore operations ($24 million).

Second Quarter 2014-15

Group operating profit for the second quarter improved $45 million (+51.7%) to $132 million.

Group revenue was almost flat at $3,905 million. Passenger revenue increased marginally, as higher passenger carriage was largely offset by a 0.9% decline in yields. Cargo revenue was down 0.5% on the back of lower capacity (-4.1%), but was mitigated by improved yields (+2.8%).

Group expenditure declined $41 million (-1.1%) to $3,773 million. Fuel costs before hedging fell $115 million, partially offset by a loss on fuel hedging, compared to a hedging gain in the same quarter last year (+$76 million).

Group net profit was down $70 million (-43.5%) year-on-year to $91 million. This was largely attributable to weaker results from associated companies (-$138 million), partly mitigated by higher operating profit (+$45 million), and higher gains on disposal of aircraft, spares and spare engines (+$35 million).

FIRST HALF 2014-15 OPERATING PERFORMANCE

The Parent Airline Companyโ€™s passenger carriage (in revenue passenger kilometres) increased marginally by 0.1%, while capacity (in available seat-kilometres) dipped 0.2% during the first half of the financial year. As a result, passenger load factor improved by 0.2 percentage points to 79.8%.

SilkAir recorded a 0.4 percentage-point increase in passenger load factor to 69.7%, as its 4.2% growth in traffic outpaced capacity injection of 3.7%.

SIA Cargo reduced its capacity (in capacity tonne-kilometres) by 3.8%. Airfreight carriage (in load tonne-kilometres) declined by 3.4%. Consequently, cargo load factor improved 0.2 percentage points to 62.2%.

No. 05/14 6 November 2014 Page 4 of 6

INTERIM DIVIDEND

The Company is declaring an interim dividend of 5 cents per share (tax exempt, one-tier), amounting to $59 million, for the half-year ended 30 September 2014. The interim dividend will be paid on 27 November 2014 to shareholders as of 18 November 2014.

FLEET AND ROUTE DEVELOPMENT

The Parent Airline Company took delivery of two Airbus A330-300s in the second quarter. As at September 30, 2014, the operating fleet of the Parent Airline Company comprised 105 passenger aircraft – 57 Boeing 777s, 29 Airbus A330-300s and 19 A380-800s, with an average age of 7 years.

During the quarter, SilkAir took delivery of two Boeing 737-800 aircraft, sold one Airbus A320-200 and decommissioned another A320-200 in preparation for return to lessor. As at September 30, 2014, its operating fleet comprised 26 aircraft โ€“ 14 Airbus A320-200s, six A319-100s and six Boeing 737-800s.

There was no change to Scootโ€™s fleet during the July-September quarter, comprising six Boeing 777-200s.

SIA Cargo operated a fleet of eight Boeing 747-400 freighters at September 30, 2014, the same as the previous quarter. It suspended freight operations to Lagos from July 29, 2014, and added services to Amsterdam, Brussels and Delhi in September to cater to seasonal demand.

In the Northern Winter season (October 26, 2014 โ€“ March 28, 2015), the Parent Airline Company will increase capacity to Auckland with daily Airbus A380 services, replacing the smaller Boeing 777-300 ER. To cater to peak period demand, three additional weekly services will be operated to Melbourne and Sydney, and two additional weekly services will be operated to Brisbane and Christchurch, from the end of November 2014 to January 2015. In addition, three weekly services will be operated to Sapporo from December 2014 to mid-January 2015. As part of a service restructuring to the Middle East, flights to Cairo and Riyadh have been suspended from October 2014. SilkAir suspended its twice-weekly services to Solo with effect from October 26, 2014. From December 12, 2014, it will begin daily services to Denpasar. Together with the Parent Airline Company, a total of five daily trips will be served between Singapore and the city, subject to regulatory approval. This will bring the combined network of both airlines to 99 cities in 35 countries.

OUTLOOK

The operating landscape for the airline industry remains competitive and challenging, as an uncertain global economic climate and geopolitical concerns persist.

Demand is generally flat, and yields will remain under pressure amid intense competition from other airlines and promotional activities in weaker markets.

Airfreight demand has seen a moderate recovery in recent months, with demand projected to be stronger in the third quarter as a result of the traditional peak period in the lead-up to Christmas. However, overcapacity in the airfreight market is expected to continue to put pressure on yields.

While there has been a reprieve from cost pressures arising from the decline in fuel prices in recent months, there is concern that the decline reflects a slow- down in major economies in the world which could ultimately hurt travel demand.

The Group will continue to track market movements closely and make appropriate adjustments to capacity, while practising cost discipline in all business areas. With a strong balance sheet, the Group is well positioned to meet the challenges ahead.

Analysis of the financial report:

Comment by Kelvin Wong of www.cityindex.com.sg

Earnings per share for 1H 2014/2015 has declined to $0.107 from $0.24 (y/y) which represents a sharp drop of 55%. Similar for Q2 2014/205 which EPS has declined to 7.7 from 13.6 (y/y) which translates to a 76% decline.

This poor performance has been contributed by its subsidiariesโ€™ contribution towards the SIA Groupโ€™s operating profit where we see poor performance in SIA Engineering & SilkAir (both decline drastically by 33.9% and 77.3% respectively from 1H 2013/2014 to 1H 2014/2015.)

Going forward, SIA Group is likely to see downside pressure on its bottom-line due to intense competition from budget airline operators and economic risks such as the spread of Ebola that will hamper international travel.

Technically, SIA is still trading in a multi-year sideways configuration since Nov 2011 and in order to see a change of trend to the upside, it needs to break above the key resistance at 10.92

Link to Kelvinโ€™s page at http://www.cityindex.com.sg/market-talk/analysts/kelvin-wong/

Copyright Photo: SPA/AirlinersGallery.com. Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A380-841 9V-SKL (msn 058) arrives in London (Heathrow).

Singapore Airlines:ย AG Slide Show

Tigerair’s quarterly loss widens to $143.3 million, Singapore Airlines jumps in and takes a majority 55% stake, will sublease 12 A320s to IndiGo

Tiger Airways Holdings Limited (Tigerair) (Singapore) has reported an operating loss of S$25.3 million ($19.8 million US) for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 (Fiscal Second Quarter), compared to an operating loss of S$12.8 million ($10.0 million US) recorded in the previous corresponding quarter last year

Tigerair Singapore recorded an operating loss of S$31.3 million ($24.5 million US) for the quarter compared to S$18.1 million $14.2 million US) a year ago. Revenue decreased by 4.9% to S$143.9 million ($113 million US) on the back of a rationalization of Tigerair Singaporeโ€™s network. The resulting improvement in load factor (+4 percentage point), was nevertheless offset by lower yields (-10.4%). Expenses increased by 3.4% to $175.2 million on higher unit cost (+3.1%).

The Group recorded loss after tax of S$182.4 million ($143.3 million US) in the Fiscal Second Quarter, compared to profit after tax of S$23.8 million $18.7 million US) a year ago. In total, the Group recorded one-off accounting provisions aggregating S$161.1 million in 2QFY15, mainly comprising S$99.3 million $126.6 million US) relating to the sublease of surplus aircraft and S$59.8 million ($46.9 million) for the divestment of Tigerair Australia.

According to the airline, “Tigerairโ€™s largest shareholder, Singapore Airlines Limited (Singapore), has undertaken to subscribe for its pro rata entitlement, and also subscribe for excess Rights Shares, up to a total of S$140 million. Prior to the Rights Issue, SIA will convert its perpetual convertible capital securities (PCCS) holdings into Shares. The conversion will raise SIAโ€™s stake in Tigerair from 40% to approximately 55% before the Rights Issue, effectively making Tigerair a subsidiary of SIA. SIA will not be making a general offer as Tigerairโ€™s minority shareholders had approved a whitewash resolution in March 2013 to waive their rights to receive a general offer as a result of the PCCS conversion.”

In other news, Tiger Airways Holdings group (Tigerair) has reached an agreement with InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo) relating to the subleasing of 12 of Tigerairโ€™s surplus aircraft by the Indian budget carrier. This sublease arrangement enables the Group to reduce excess capacity significantly and hence lower related leasing cost.

Most of these aircraft were previously operated by Tigerair Philippines and Tigerair Mandala, and had been returned to the Group upon its divestment of Tigerair Philippines in March 2014 and Tigerair Mandalaโ€™s cessation of operations in July 2014.

These 12 aircraft will be progressively delivered to IndiGo over a period of six months commencing in October 2014. Each aircraft will be subleased for between three and four years. With the lease of one of the 12 aircraft expiring in 2018, only 11 of the aircraft will be returned to the Group at the end of their respective sublease periods. Following their return, seven of the 11 aircraft are expected to re-join the operating fleet, while the remaining four may be progressively re-introduced back to the service network within two years.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 9V-TRI (msn 5596) of Tigerair (Singapore) arrives in Bangkok.

Tigerair (Singapore):ย AG Slide Show

Tigerair (Singapore) Aircraft Slide Show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Asia-3/Airlines-Asia3-QZ/Tiger-Airways-Singapore

Air New Zealand to restore the Auckland-Singapore route

Air New Zealand (Auckland) is resuming services on the Auckland-Singapore route on January 6, 2015, replacing one daily flight operated by its partner Singapore Airlines (Singapore) according to Airline Route.

Air New Zealand last operated nonstop flights to Singapore in October 2006.

The route will be operated with Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft.

Copyright Photo: Colin Hunter/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Air New Zealand’s Boeing 777-219 ER ZK-OKC (msn 34377) taxies at the Auckland base.

Air New Zealand:ย AG Slide Show

Vistara is selected as the name for the Tata-Singapore joint venture

Vistara A319 (Vistara)

Vistara is the name of the new joint venture airline that wants to start premium service in October in India. The joint venture is between Singapore Airlines and the Tata Sons.

Vistara has leased 20 Airbus A320 Family aircraft, including seven A320neo aircraft, to be added to the fleet over the next five years. The airline will take delivery of its first aircraft in September and will have a fleet of five by the end of the year.

The name Vistara in Sanskrit means limitless expanse.

Tata is also involved in a joint venture with AirAsia with the start of AirAsia India.

Read the full article from Bloomberg Businessweek: CLICK HERE

Image: Vistara.

Singapore Airlines to bring the Airbus A380 to Auckland

Singapore Airlines (Singapore) will introduce the Airbus A380 on the Singapore-Auckland, New Zealand route on October 27 per Airline Route. The flight will operate daily.

Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A380-841 9V-SKJ (msn 045) lands in Zurich.

Singapore Airlines:

JetBlue Airways and Singapore Airlines file for a codeshare agreement

JetBlue Airways (New York) and Singapore Airlines (Singapore) have filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to enter into a bilateral codeshare agreement.

JetBlue and Singapore Airlines have been interline partners since 2011. The expanded partnership would provide customers seamless connections between the two airlines, combining flights on both carriers and easily facilitating one-stop ticketing and baggage check-in. Flights will become available for sale pending regulatory approval.

Under the proposed codeshare, JetBlue customers would have access to five new cities in Europe and Asia, while Singapore Airlines customers would have access to 16 destinations in the U.S.

Under the proposed agreement, JetBlue would put its ‘B6′ code on Singapore Airlines’ flights to/from the U.S. including:

Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo (NRT) – Singapore (SIN)
New York (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Singapore (SIN)
San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Singapore (SIN)
San Francisco (SFO) – Seoul (ICN) – Singapore (SIN)

In turn, Singapore Airlines would add its ‘SQ’ designator code on JetBlue-operated flights beyond its U.S. gateway at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to 16 key destinations:

Austin, Texas
Boston, Massachusetts
Buffalo, New Yorkk
Charlotte, North Carolina
Chicago, Illinois (O’Hare)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Florida
Houston, Texas
Jacksonville, Florida
Orlando, Florida
New Orleans, Louisiana
Portland, Maine
Rochester, New York
Syracuse, New York
Tampa, Florida
Washington D.C. (Dulles)
West Palm Beach, Florida

Top Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. JetBlue Airways’ Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW N373JB (msn 19000624) in the Barcode tail design lands at Baltimore/Washington.

JetBlue Airways:ย AG Slide Show

Singapore Airlines:ย AG Slide Show

Bottom Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A380-841 9V-SKF (msn 012) taxies from the gate at Los Angeles International Airport.

 

Scoot to receive its first Boeing 787 in November

Boeing (Chicago and Seattle) and Scoot (Singapore) have announced a five-year pilot training agreement to support the airline’s fleet transition to 787-9 Dreamliners.

Under the agreement, Boeing Flight Services, a business unit of Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, will provide 787 flight training to Scoot pilots at Boeing’s Singapore training campus. In 2014 alone, an anticipated 32 Scoot pilots will undergo training.

The 2013 Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook, a respected industry forecast of personnel demand, projects a requirement for 498,000 new commercial airline pilots and 556,000 new maintenance technicians to fly and maintain the new airplanes entering the world fleet over the next 20 years. In Southeast Asia, 51,500 pilots and 64,700 technicians are needed to fill the gap.

Scoot will acquire 20 Boeing 787-9s beginning in November 2014. A second 787 is due ar the end of February 2015. The airplanes were originally ordered by parent company Singapore Airlines. Scoot currently operates Boeing 777-200s on medium and long haul low-cost flights between Singapore and Sydney, Gold Coast, Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo, Tianjin, Shenyang, Nanjing, Qingdao, Seoul, Perth and Hong Kong.

Scoot is expected to introduce the new type in December on its routes.

Copyright Photo: Nik French/AirlinersGallery.com. Eventually Scoot will become an all 787 operator (following Norwegian Long Haul) and the pictured Boeing 777-200 ERs will be phased out. Former Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-212 ER 9V-OTA (msn 28507) arrives at Tokyo (Narita).

Scoot:ย AG Slide Show

In the meantime, Scoot is running a contest (now extended) to name the first Boeing 787 (below).

Scoot Name our 787 Contest (Scoot)

 

Singapore Airlines to invest $325 million on its 19 Boeing 777-300s with new cabins and seats

Singapore Airlines (Singapore) will invest $325 million (US) to upgrade its 19 Boeing 777-300 ERs with according to the airline, “the latest generation of cabin products, featuring new seats in all classes of travel and the worldโ€™s most advanced in-flight entertainment system.

The significant investment program will provide consistency across the airlineโ€™s entire Boeing 777-300 ER fleet, with next-generation cabin products that are the new industry benchmark for premium air travel.”

Singapore 777-300 First Class (Singapore)(LRW)

Singapore Airlines introduced the new cabin products in September 2013 after taking delivery of the first of eight additional Boeing 777-300 ERs ordered from Boeing. The upgrade program will see the same products fitted to 19 existing Boeing 777-300 ERs. Installation work is expected to begin early in 2015, with all aircraft completed by September 2016.

The new cabin products are currently available on selected daily services to London Heathrow and Tokyo Narita. They were introduced after more than two years of development with world-renowned design firms, including BMW Group DesignworksUSA and James Park Associates.

Singapore 777-300 Seat (Singapore)(LRW)

The new First Class seat offers enhanced comfort, featuring a fixed-back shell design with curved side panels for added privacy. Set in a modern, welcoming cabin, the seat also features an ergonomically sculpted cushion and adjustable headrest, with customised in-seat lighting. At 35 inches in width and with an increased bed length of 82 inches, it is one of the most spacious First Class products in the sky.

Singapore Business Class (Singapore)(LRW)

The new Business Class seat offers greater recline at 132 degrees, with an improved ergonomic seat cushion. Two new seating positions have been introduced โ€“ โ€˜Lazy Zโ€™ and โ€˜Sundeckโ€™ โ€“ providing even greater flexibility for customers to choose their preferred ways to work or relax. When converted, it becomes the industryโ€™s widest full-flat bed, at 78 inches in length, with a padded headboard cushion for enhanced comfort. More stowage space has also been added, with an amenity stowage area on the side console and laptop stowage area.

The new Economy Class seat also provides additional comfort, with increased personal space and legroom. Seats feature new backrest cushions with side bolsters for better support. An ergonomically sculpted headrest cushion provides an increased range of height adjustments and improved neck support.

Complementing the new seats is the latest KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system. Upgraded with the latest hardware offerings and an intuitive graphical user interface, it is the worldโ€™s most advanced in-flight entertainment system.

First Class customers can enjoy the new KrisWorld on a 24-inch LCD screen, with video touch-screen handset. Business Class features an 18-inch LCD screen and touch-screen handset, while Economy Class features an 11.1-inch touch-screen monitor and touch-screen handset.

Top Copyright Photo: Mark Durbin/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by Singapore Airlines).

Singapore Airlines Aircraft Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Singapore Airlines to sponsor the 2014 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix

Singapore Airlines (Singapore) has joined the group of airlines to sponsor Formula 1 Grand Prix races, following Etihad Airways, Gulf Air and QANTAS Airways.

In anticipation of this agreement, a photo-shoot was arranged on April 7 when the pictured Airbus A380-841 9V-SKS (msn 085) returned from a Los Angeles-Tokyo (Narita)-Singapore flight. 9V-SKS was towed to bay 102 for the special photo shoot.

Formula 1 logo

 

Singapore Airlines issued this statement:

Singapore Airlines has signed an agreement with the Formula One Group to be the Title Sponsor of the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix.

This yearโ€™s event will take place from September 19-21 at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

Formula 1ยฎ, which began in 1950, is the worldโ€™s most prestigious motor racing competition and is the worldโ€™s most popular annual sporting series. In 2014 it was watched by over 450 million unique television viewers from 185 territories. The 2014 FIA Formula One World Championshipโ„ข runs from March to November and spans 19 races in 19 countries across five continents. Formula One World Championship Limited is a subsidiary of the Formula One group, founded by CEO Bernie Ecclestone, and holds the exclusive commercial rights to the FIA Formula One World Championshipโ„ข.

Copyright Photo: Kok Chwee K.C. Sim/AirlinersGallery.com. 9V-SKS poses with a Formula 1 race car at bay 102 for special photo shoot.

Singapore Airlines:ย AG Slide Show

The new Tata-Singapore Airlines Indian joint venture to lease 20 Airbus A320s from BOC Aviation

Tata Group logo (large)

The unnamed Tata Group – Singapore Airlines (Singapore) joint airline venture in India has selected the Airbus A320 to power the new full-service airline. According to this report by Reuters, the JV will be leasing 20 Airbus A320s from BOC Aviation (Singapore). The Tata-Singapore JV airline is expected to launch operations in the second half of this year.

The Tata Group is also partnering with AirAsia to launch an unnamed low-fare joint venture airline in India.

The Indian market is exploding despite the recent failure of Kingfisher Airlines. Jet Airways is negotiating a large Boeing 737 order with Boeing.

The Tata Group is an Indianย multinationalย conglomerateย company headquartered inย Mumbai, Maharashtra, India according to Wikipediaย The group encompasses seven business sectors: communications and information technology, engineering, materials, services, energy, consumer products and chemicals. Tata Group was founded in 1868 byย Jamsetji Tataย as a trading company. It has operations in more than 80 countries across six continents. Tata Group has over 100 operating companies with each of them operating independently.

Tata Group remains a family-owned business, as the descendants of the founder (from theย Tata family) own a majority stake in the company. The current chairman of the Tata group isย Cyrus Pallonji Mistry, who took over fromย Ratan Tataย in 2012.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE