Traffic Results for September 2012: Austrian Airlines Increases Load Factor to Over 80 Percent

• January-September 2012: 2.1 percent more passengers carried
• September 2012: Fewer passengers due to reduction of capacity

2012-10-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Austrian Airlines Group increased the number of passengers carried in the first three quarters of 2012 by 2.1 percent from the prior- ear level to a total of 8.8 million passengers. The passenger load factor was up by 3.5 percentage points, rising to 77.7 percent. Capacity as measured by available seat kilometers (ASK) was reduced by 2.5 percent, whereas the comparable figure for revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) improved by 2.1 percent.

Considering the month of September 2012 in itself, Austrian Airlines carried about 1.1 million passengers. While the ASKs were reduced by 8.2 percent, the number of passengers carried sank only by 2.8 percent compared to the figure in September 2011. This decrease can be attributed to the sale of four medium-haul aircraft (Boeing 737). However, the passenger load factor of the flights in September 2012 climbed to a high level of 82.9 percent, thus 5.3 percentage points higher than in the same month last year.

“In September we achieved an above-average passenger load factor, surpassing the 80 percent threshold. As a result productivity increases, we are on a good way “, says Karsten Benz, Chief Commercial Officer of Austrian Airlines.

Europe
In September 2012, a total of 878,100 passengers flew with Austrian Airlines in Europe. This comprises a drop of 3.9 percent from the previous year, which is due to the extensive capacity reduction. In contrast, the passenger load factor rose by 3.9 percentage points to 82.1 percent.

In the period January to September 2012, Austrian Airlines carried a total of close to 7 million passengers in Europe, corresponding to an increase of 3 percent. The passenger load factor during this period rose by 3 percentage points to 75 percent.

Intercontinental
In September 2012 the number of passengers carried on intercontinental flights decreased slightly and was down by 0.4 percent to 150,600. The passenger load factor was 83.8 percent, or 6.6 percentage points above the prior-year level.

In the period January to September 2012, Austrian Airlines carried a total of 1.3 million passengers on its intercontinental flights, an increase of 0.6 percent from the previous year in spite of the negative effects relating to the crisis in the Middle East. The passenger load factor climbed 4.3 percentage points to 79.8 percent.

Charter
In September 2012, the number of passengers carried on charter flights rose by 3.3 percent to 94,200 in spite of the capacity reduction. The passenger load factor rose by 5.2 percentage points to 82.4 percent.

In the period January to September 2012, a total of 543,300 passengers flew with the Charter segment of Austrian Airlines. This is – due to the capacity reduction – a drop of  .6 percent from the prior-year level. The passenger load factor was up 2.2 percentage points to 79.6 percent.

Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines is Austria’s largest carrier and operates a global route network of round 130 destinations. That route network is particularly dense in Central and Eastern Europe: with 44 destinations, Austrian Airlines operates the densest route network into this region served by a single airport. Thanks to its favourable geographical location at the heart of Europe, the company’s hub at Vienna International Airport is the ideal gateway between East and West. Austrian Airlines is part of the Lufthansa Group, Europe’s largest airline group, and a member of the Star Alliance, the first global alliance of international airlines.

Traffic results in detail

Owner. Editor. Reproducer: Austrian Airlines AG. Corporate Communications public.relations@austrian.com.

Please find further information concerning the disclosure according to §§ 24 and 25 Media Act on www.austrian.com

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