THAI reported a disappointing loss despite increased passenger numbers, load factors and new fleet purchases, reducing the average fleet age. The National airline also introduced new direct long-haul flights and increased regional coverage.
Thai Airways International Pcl missed estimates with a net loss of 2.11 billion baht ($67.41 million) for its 2017 fiscal year a year, blaming aircraft maintenance, an impairment loss and higher fuel prices.
The airline, which reported a profit of 15.14 million baht in 2016, missed analysts estimates of 2.6 billion baht in profits for 2017.
THAI Key Performance indicators 2017 at a glance (y-o-y)
THAI BAHT
Revenue 192 billion +6.3%
Profit -2.11 billion LOSS (LY +14.15 million)
Cabin factor 79.2% +5.8%
Passengers 24.6 million +10.4%
Fuel Price +24.2%
Forex -1.58 billion LOSS (LY+685 million)
Maintenance 979 million (LY 1.32 billion)
Impairment 3.19 billion (LY 3.63 billion)
International Tourist arrivals 35.2m +9.9%
Thai Airways booked a one-time maintenance item of 550 million baht with a total of 979 million baht and impairment loss of assets and aircraft of 3.19 billion baht.
The carrier also booked 1.58 billion baht in foreign exchange losses in 2017, compared with a foreign exchange gains of 685 million baht in 2016. Average jet fuel price was 24.2 percent higher than the year before.
Asian jet fuel differentials have reached a 10-year high in 2018 as demand has outpaced production.
Total revenue was up by 6.3 percent and reached 192 billion baht as the airline carried 24.6 million passengers in 2017, 10.3 percent more than it did in 2016.
Thai Airways reported a cabin factor – which measures how full its flights were – of 79.2 percent in 2017, the highest in 10 years and up from 73.4 percent a year earlier. The Thai aviation industry is expected to expand from tourism and also the removal of the red flag related to safety concerns by the UN International Civil Aviation Organization in October last year.
A separate review by US Federal Aviation Authority is expected to take place mid 2018, which the is hoped could open routes to the United States later in the year.
Thai Airways expected to receive five new Airbus A350-900 this year to fly intercontinental and regional routes.
The airline warned that competition from low-cost carriers and upward trend of fuel prices were risks for the year ahead. Thai carriers have been struggling to make the most of a boom in tourism to Thailand, which expects a 6 percent rise in tourists to 37.55 million this year.
THAI and its subsidiaries reported a net loss of 2,072 million baht. Loss attributable to owners of the parent amounted to 2,107 million baht. Loss per share was 0.97 baht while last year’s profit per share was 0.01 baht.
