SAS Group Interim Report January-June 2007
Key ratios for first six months:
· Operating revenue: MSEK 30,133 (29,131) (+3.4%)
· Number of passengers : 20.1 million (+5.8%)
· Income before nonrecurring items in continuing operations: MSEK 369 (-588)
· EBT margin before nonrecurring items: 1.2% (-2.0%)
· Net income for the period: MSEK 560 (-511)
· Earnings per share: SEK 3.44 (-3.31)
Income and key ratios
Apr-Jun Apr-Jun Jan-Jun Jan-Jun Jul-Jun
(MSEK) 2007 2006 2007 2006 2006-07
Revenue 16,294 16,155 30,133 29,131 61,615
EBITDAR 2,230 2,035 3,174 2,225 7,477
Income before
nonrecurring
items in
continuing
operations 844 695 369 -588 1,785
EBT margin
before
nonrecurring
items 5.2% 4.3% 1.2% -2.0% 2.9%
Income before
tax, EBT 800 442 323 -909 1,481
Net income
for the
period 607 553 560 -511 5,811
Earnings per
share (SEK)
from
continuing
and
discontinued
operations 3.55 2.97 3.44 -3.31 34.85
Comments by the CEO
The quarter was characterized by continued favorable business conditions
in our home market, which contributed to growth in the market for air
travel. Consequently, the trend for passengers and yield remained
positive and this, combined with effective cost and capacity control,
generated income for the quarter of MSEK 844 before nonrecurring items,
an improvement of MSEK 149. For the first six months of the year, the
earnings improvement was approximately SEK 1 billion. For the first six
months, the improvement in income amounted to approximately SEK 1
billion. During the period, there were strikes at SAS that had a
negative impact on income of MSEK 300.
During the quarter, we carried 11 million passengers - the highest
number ever for the SAS Group, which is 5.8% more than in the preceding
year.
In June, we launched our strategy plan 2011. The premise for this is to
reduce the Group's complexity to benefit the customer and the key terms
are cultural turnaround, focus, concentration, harmonization and
increased competitiveness, involving further cost adaptations of SEK 2.8
billion. The job of implementing the plan is now starting with full
strength. The objective of the plan is to create the conditions for
profitable growth and to achieve an earnings level that meets our
investment requirements and shareholders' demands.
I deeply regret the strikes that have affected SAS customers and
shareholders. Accordingly, a key part of our strategy is to implement a
cultural turnaround and find a new model for cooperation with the trade
unions.
There are currently no clear indications of a slowdown in the economy or
the airline market, but uncertainty remains regarding the strength of
growth, the competitive situationmoving forward and the trend for jet
fuel. The first and second quarters progressed in a positive direction
and, for 2007 as a whole, continued positive passenger growth is
expected in most of the SAS Group's markets. Competition is expected to
remain intense in the markets in which SAS operates.
Mats Jansson
President and CEO
Direct questions to: Investor Relations SAS Group: Vice President Sture
Stølen +46 8 797 14 51, e-mail: investor.relations@sas.se
SAS Group Interim Report January-June 2007
| Source: SAS AB
Attachments
