The financial performance in 2023 is not yet at 2019 levels of profitability and margin due to higher operating costs.
Aer Lingus recorded an operating profit of 225 million euros for the full year 2023, an increase of 168 million euros on 2022.
The positive financial performance in 2023 reflected strong demand for leisure travel on both short haul and long haul routes. In 2023, Aer Lingus served 10.7 million passengers, operated its largest-ever North American network and added more routes and capacity to European destinations from Ireland. Business travel in 2023 lagged pre-Covid levels but is showing some signs of recovery in early 2024.
Advancing its sustainability programme, Aer Lingus took delivery of two Airbus 320 neo aircraft in 2023. The aircraft delivers the lowest emissions per seat on the company’s short haul network. Aer Lingus also procured its first supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in 2023, 750 tonnes at London Heathrow and has an ambition to use 10% SAF by 2030. The airline committed over €306 million in 2023 to investment in new fleet, customer experience, technology and other operational areas and welcomed almost 900 new people into the airline.
Aer Lingus’s CEO, Lynne Embleton said, “These results put Aer Lingus on the right trajectory for the future. We have a compelling growth strategy for Aer Lingus that will be good for the company, our employees, our customers and for Ireland. However, achieving it is dependent on having the right cost base and productivity levels and not being constrained by the unnecessary passenger cap issue. These challenges will need to be resolved by a collaborative and sensible approach by all stakeholders that delivers the right outcomes”.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
