Traffic Data December 2009 and the whole year 2009
Scheduled Flights
Icelandair carried a total of 1.3 million passengers on scheduled routes last
year, 9% fewer passengers than in 2008. The company reduced its capacity by 9%
in 2009, thus the load factor on Icelandair flights was 75% in 2009, which is
the same as the year before and similar to the previous four years.
Icelandair divides its passengers into three markets, passengers travelling TO
Iceland, passengers travelling FROM Iceland, and passengers travelling VIA
Iceland on their way between Europe and North America, with a stopover in
Keflavík. In 2009 there was a considerable change in this passenger mix.
Passengers TO Iceland increased by 9%, from 40% to 49% of total passengers.
The proportion of foreign passengers travelling with Icelandair has never been
this high. Icelanders going abroad were 22% of total passengers for 2009.
Passengers FROM Iceland where 31% in 2008, and were therefore reduced by a
third between years. Passengers travelling VIA Iceland between the continents
were 29% of total passengers, the same as in 2008.
Air Iceland carried 375,000 passengers in 2009, compared to 416,000 in 2008.
The load factor was 69% in 2009 compared to 67% in 2008.
Capacity Solutions
In capacity solutions and aircraft trading the year was marked by the tough
market conditions in the international airline business. This was especially
true with respect to SmartLynx in Latvia. Sold block hours increased by 2%
between years but utilisation of aircraft went from 97% in 2008 to 94% in 2009
Cargo
Capacity of the cargo companies Bluebird and Icelandair Cargo decreased by 28%
between 2008 and 2009. Transported volume decreased by 37%.
Tourism
Hotel Room capacity with Icelandair Hotels was similar between years but room
utilisation went from 66% in 2008 to 68% in 2009.
Bookings
During the first quarter of 2010 Icelandair increases its capacity by 20% from
the same time last year. Bookings for the first quarter are looking good, and
are 25% more than at the same time last year.
Despite the fact that improvements are observable in the market, it is foreseen
that quite some time will pass until demand and unit price in charter flights
will recover
Bogi Nils Bogason- CFO Icelandair Group
Tel: 354-665-8801
