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Record passenger levels of 5.2 million carried by Austrian despite problems facing industry at large. The short and medium-haul sectors showed most robust growth with the airline carrying approximately 4.1 million passengers in these segments in the first half of 2008 this represents a 6.1% year-on-year increase.
Revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) on these scheduled services rose at the above-average rate of 8.0%, while scheduled capacity (measured in available seat kilometers or ASK) increased by 5.7%. The passenger load factor in this segment reached 67.0%, rising by 1.4 percentage points compared to the figure for 2007.
The second quarter went very positively in this segment. Passenger growth was 4.9%, and the passenger load factor increased by 1.0 percentage points to a satisfactory 69.2%
Chief Executive Officer Alfred Otsch said the following about the current traffic result: “We achieved a passenger record of more than 5.2 million passengers carried in the first half-year, and also held the passenger load factor overall stable at 74.0% despite the challenging surrounding conditions. The current crisis in the aviation industry, high kerosene prices and slower demand are having their effect on us too and selective capacity adjustments and seasonal reductions will be implemented in the coming months. Against the background of these developments, however, it is to our benefit that markets in Central and Eastern Europe and the Levant and Middle East are more robust and less harshly affected by the slower economic cycle. Should the aviation crisis worsen, however, we shall be forced to take further measures.”
The first half year was influenced by various special factors including the European Football Championship. Although Austrian operated numerous special flights most were only fully booked in one direction and the Championships hindered the normally strong business and conference traffic. Long-haul traffic was also influenced by the effects of the US sub-prime crisis and the current tighter visa requirements for Chinese travellers in the run-up to the Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
