STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Aug. 8, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- The SAS Group (Other OTC:SASDF):
- The SAS Group transported a total of 2.5 million passengers in July 2003 vs 2,7 million in 2002, a decrease of 5.9%.
- Total passenger traffic (RPK) decreased by 0.1% vs 2002.
- Overall group passenger load factor decreased by 1,1 p.u to 70,6% for July 2003 vs. 2002.
- Market trends and yield development
The traffic development in July indicates improving traffic and load factors, but a continued strong pressure on passenger yields. Traffic on North America showed passenger load factors close to 90% in July. Asian routes started to recover in June and load factors was close to 80% in July. Bookings on European routes in Scandinavian Airlines are back to 2002-year level.
Braathens traffic development on Norwegian domestic routes was very weak in July with continued pressure on yields. Spanair's traffic improved in July with load factors at the same level as 2002.
Indications of passenger yield development for Scandinavian Airlines in July indicate a continued pressure as a result of negative mix, a number of sales campaigns and new market initiatives. Yields for June was down 17% and 12% for the period Jan-Jun. Yields on the European routes were down 15% in June, affected by the introduction of the new low fare initiative Snowflake (8-9 p.u.). Underlying yield development is in line with previous months.
The overall yield development in June and indications for July is in line with the figures reported for the previous months, but load factors and traffic development has improved. Forceful cost measures are under implementation to secure a sustained profitability level in a lower yield environment. Due to the situation with continued weak economies, the outlook remains cautious.
The SAS Group will release its 2nd Quarter result on August 11 at approx 2.30 p.m. CET.
Scandinavian Airlines
- Scandinavian Airlines traffic (RPK) decreased by 4.9% in July 2003 compared with 2002.
- Scandinavian Airlines passenger load factor increased by 0.4 p.u. to 74.5% Intercontinental traffic decreased by 0.5% in July. Traffic to/from the U.S and South East Asia have improved significantly. Scandinavian Airlines will resume its daily traffic to Beijing as from 22 August. The demand on the European routes has improved and traffic was up 4.3%. Passenger load factor on the new low price initiative, Snowflake, was above 80% in July. Intrascandinavian traffic continued to be weak. Danish domestic traffic was down mainly as a result of the discontinued Greenland route. Norwegian and Swedish
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