In the first half of 2021, Austrian Airlines recorded a negative adjusted EBIT of 201 million euros. The carrier was thus able to improve by 14 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. It carried around 1,1 million passengers in the first six months, which is 83 percent below the value that could be achieved “before Corona”.

“Virus variants, the travel restrictions often associated with them and the low demand for long-distance and business travel are slowing the recovery of the aviation industry. The rising number of bookings in the summer gives us some breathing space, but the crisis does not allow us to breathe a sigh of relief for a long time, ”said Austrian Airlines CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech on the occasion of the company figures for the first half of 2021.

In the second quarter of 2021, Austrian Airlines' revenue was 126 million euros, 260 percent more than in the same quarter of the previous year, which consisted of practically only two weeks of minimal operation in June (Q2 2020: 35 million euros). Compared to the second quarter of 2019, however, the decline in sales was 79 percent. At 136 million euros, total revenue was 2021 percent higher in the second quarter of 131 than in the previous year (Q2 2020: 59 million euros, Q2 2019: 616 million euros). The ramp-up of flight operations at the beginning of summer led to total expenses of 231 million euros, 46 percent higher than in the same quarter of the previous year (Q2 2020: 158 million euros, Q2 2019: 571 million euros). In the second quarter of the year, the adjusted EBIT was therefore EUR -95 million (Q2 2020: EUR -99 million, Q2 2019: EUR 46 million).

In the first half of 2021, total revenues fell by 45 percent to 201 million euros (first half of 1: 2020 million euros) or by 363 percent compared to the first half of 80, while operating expenses in the same period fell by 2019 percent to 33 Million euros (402st half of 1: 2020 million euros, 598st half of 1: 2019 million euros). The adjusted EBIT in the first half of the financial year 1.073 was therefore -2021 million euros and was thus 201 percent higher than that of the first half of 14 (-2020 million euros), but 235 percent lower than that of the first half of 279 (- 2019 million euros). In a half-year comparison, the number of employees at Austrian Airlines decreased by 53 percent to 9 employees (6.132st half of 1: 2020, 6.756st half of 1: 2019). In order to be able to fly out of the crisis competitively, the restructured company will be around 6.999 percent smaller, which is one of the reasons why a total of 20 full-time positions will have to be cut compared to the pre-crisis level. Around 1.350 of these have already been achieved through natural fluctuation.

The low occupancy rate in the first quarter of 2021 is also having an impact on the number of passengers. Due to strict travel restrictions and a low number of flights at the beginning of the year, the number of passengers fell in the first half of the year by 44 percent to 1,1 million (1st half of 2020: 2,0 million, 1st half of 2019: 6,7 million) . The available seat kilometers amounted to 2,9 billion and were thus 37 percent below that of the same period of the previous year (1st half of 2020: 4,6 billion, 1st half of 2019: 13,6 billion). The domestic airline's flights were booked to capacity at 2021 percent in the first half of 53,1 (first half of 1: 2020 percent, first half of 68,1: 1 percent). The fleet of the red-white-red airline was reduced to 2019 aircraft in a half-year comparison (78,1st half of 73: 1) due to the resizing. The departure of the Dash planes from the Austrian Airlines fleet portfolio made up a large part of the planes that were phased out.

AUA benefits from high summer demand

With a strong focus on destinations in the Mediterranean region, the Austrian Airlines summer flight schedule gave the company an important upward gust of wind. The variety of over 100 destinations offered corresponds to the current travel wishes and entry options of the passengers. Flights to tourist regions in the Mediterranean region were particularly well booked in the second quarter of 2021. The most popular destinations in the tourist segment to date have been Crete, Palma de Mallorca and Kos. Austrian Holidays flights are currently used at around 80 percent on average.

“This summer the Austrians are putting their trust in Austrian as the airline they trust. We are delighted with this appreciation, which is reflected in positive booking trends and good occupancy rates on our holiday flights, ”said Michael Trestl, Chief Sales Officer. The extensive range of flights in the summer months made it possible to raise the production of the red-white-red airline back to a level of around 55 percent of the pre-crisis level and to put 7 long-haul and 46 medium-haul aircraft into operation.

The Austrian Airlines flights from the US destinations New York, Washington and Chicago to Vienna were also well utilized in the first half of the year. There was a significant boost to bookings, especially in June, when the EU announced entry restrictions for US citizens. “It is high time that the USA, for its part, now also enables entry for EU citizens. The current incomprehensible regulation not only harms the European airlines, but also the entire economy on both sides of the Atlantic, ”emphasizes CCO Michael Trestl.

The well-booked summer flights together with the successfully implemented resizing measures ensure stable liquidity and give the domestic airline a boost for the coming autumn / winter season. The further course of the pandemic and the associated entry regulations are still decisive for the booking development of the destinations in the winter flight schedule. "We advocate reciprocal and transparent political measures that also include the well-being of the company," concluded Austrian CCO Michael Trestl.