In the third quarter 2004, Iberia`s revenue passenger-kilometres (RPKs) went up by 7.2% compared to the same period the previous year…
In the third quarter 2004, Iberia`s revenue passenger-kilometres (RPKs) went up by 7.2% compared to the same period the previous year, while capacity -measured in available seat-kilometres (ASKs)- increased by 8.3%. The load factor reached 79.1%, falling by 0.8 points.
In September, the number of passengers amounted to 2.36 million, growing by 3.7% compared to 2003: Domestic passengers increased by 3.0% and international passengers rose by 4.5%. Capacity went up by 7.8% and traffic -measured in RPKs- grew by 5.4%; consequently, the load factor fell by 1.8 points, reaching 77.1%.
The domestic sector in September had a better performance compared to the two previous months. Thus, RPKs grew by 2.6%, against a capacity increase of 4.8%, and the load factor stood at 73.5%, decreasing by 1.6 points. Yields in routes inside the mainland improved compared to September 2003 due to the commercial actions carried out. In routes from and to the Canary Islands the number of passengers increased by 1.2% and the load factor slightly improved compared to the previous year, reaching 80.8%.
In the international medium haul sector, ASKs increased by 11.5% and traffic rose by 8.8%, leading to a 1.8 point-decrease in the load factor, which stood at 70.4%. European traffic grew by 5.9%, against a capacity increase of 9.1%. Consequently, the load factor reached 70.3%, falling by 2.1 points. Middle Eastern and African flights had a good performance; thus, traffic went up by 47.1%, overcoming the increase in capacity (+44%) and the load factor improved by 1.5 points, to 71.4%.
Long haul traffic grew by 5.1% while capacity increased by 7.3%, focusing in the Latin American routes. Despite the impact of the different hurricanes in the Caribbean and Southeast of the United States, Iberia carried around 300,000 passengers, reaching a load factor of 82.3%.
In the North Atlantic, capacity and traffic decreased by 5.0% and 6.9% respectively, and the load factor stood at 80.4%, dropping by 1.6 points. Mid Atlantic traffic grew by 7.6% while capacity increased by 9.1%; thus, the load factor reached 80.3%, falling by 1.2 points compared to September 2003, affected by the aforementioned hurricanes. South Atlantic load factor reached 87.5%; traffic went up by 14.1%, against a capacity increase of 17.3%. The direct flight to Montevideo (Uruguay), inaugurated in July, maintains a high load factor.
To offset the high oil prices, Iberia has recently introduced a fuel surcharge in all tickets sold in Spain: 5 euros per flight leg in domestic routes, 7 euros per flight leg in medium haul routes and 15 euros per flight leg in long haul routes.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
