The 2011 business year: an outstanding performance through consistent cost control, revenue gains and operational improvements
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
skyguide /
The 2011 business year: an outstanding performance through consistent cost
control, revenue gains and operational improvements
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Geneva, 4 April 2012. Skyguide reports an operating surplus of CHF 27.97 million
for 2011 (compared to an operating deficit of CHF 11.69 million for the previous
year). The favourable operating result was achieved through consistent cost
control and additional revenues, and despite adverse currency movements.
Following changes to the corresponding legal parameters, 2011 saw skyguide
receive its first-ever compensation for the services it provides at regional
airports and in the adjoining airspace of neighbouring countries delegated to
its control, for which it had previously received no or inadequate remuneration.
As a result of the revised financing arrangements, skyguide will be able to
eliminate its current accumulated deficit in the next few years. In operational
terms, too, the work and development effected over the past years have placed
the company in a strong and viable position.
More revenues and stable costs
On the revenue front, skyguide (Switzerland's joint-stock company for civil and
military air navigation services) felt the benefit of a 3.1% year-on-year
increase in air traffic volumes. The company also profited last year from an
amendment to the Swiss Federal Aviation Act which meant that - for the first
time - it was at least partially compensated for the air traffic management
services it provides in the adjacent areas of German, Italian and Austrian
airspace that have been delegated to its control. Moreover, with the
implementation of the new special funding arrangements for air transport, the
Swiss government supplied skyguide with a first tranche of the proceeds from its
mineral oil tax fund, in acknowledgement of the air navigation services which
the company provides at Switzerland's regional airports. As a result of the
above developments, skyguide reports total operating revenue for 2011 of CHF
427.18 million, a 17% increase on the CHF 364.86 million of the previous year.
The company passed on part of these increased revenues to its customers, by
lowering its approach charges for Geneva and Zurich airports. The extra revenues
will now also enable skyguide to gradually reduce the CHF 99 million deficit
which it has accumulated over the past few years. Total operating expense for
2011 amounted to CHF 399.21 million. The 6% increase on the CHF 376.55 million
of 2010 is attributable primarily to the payment of skyguide's Eurocontrol
membership fee: this was previously paid by the Swiss government, but is now
paid by the company itself. The operating result for the year was a surplus of
CHF 27.97 million - a substantial improvement on the CHF 11.69 million deficit
incurred for 2010 that is attributable in no small part to continued rigorous
cost controls. The overall net result for the year amounted to a surplus of CHF
28.35 million, which compares to a surplus of CHF 6.1 million for 2010. "We are
delighted that, thanks not least to its improved business and operating
parameters, skyguide can present a balanced result for 2011," says Chairman of
the Board Guy Emmenegger. "We have been working towards this objective for
several years now, and would like to take this opportunity to thank our
politicians, the authorities and our further partners for all their support."
Adverse currency movements
The strength of the Swiss franc posed a particular challenge last year. Skyguide
earns most of its revenues in euros, while almost all of its costs are in Swiss
francs. As well as the resulting exchange-rate losses, these currency movement
developments also had the effect of artificially inflating skyguide's route
charges; and this in turn damaged the company's competitive credentials in
broader European terms. "The recent currency trends are a genuine cause for
concern," confirms Daniel Weder, skyguide's CEO, "and we are looking at various
options to limit future income losses here."
An outstanding operating performance
Once again, skyguide delivered a strong operating performance for the year as a
whole. Despite the higher traffic volumes, the punctuality of the flights
managed reached a new record high: 96% of all flights were handled without
delays (compared to 95% for the year before). For en-route traffic, the delays
attributable to air traffic services were lowered by as much as 60% year-on-
year. The favourable operating performance for 2011 can be ascribed to various
actions that have been taken to raise system capacity. These have included
intensified recruitment activities to increase air traffic controller numbers.
Last year also saw the adoption of a new planning tool that enables personnel
resources to be assigned even more effectively in response to projected traffic
volumes.
Slow progress with FABEC
Switzerland and skyguide continue to work together with Belgium, France,
Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands to create Functional Airspace Block
Europe Central (FABEC), one of the nine new "functional airspace blocks" of the
planned Single European Sky. The new larger airspace blocks are intended to
enhance the performance and efficiency of Europe's air traffic management
system. Progress last year in the FABEC collaboration process was slower than
planned. The parties involved still have differing views and positions on the
integration steps required, substantially so in certain areas. The overall
umbrella organisation of the air navigation service provider within FABEC
demanded by skyguide, for example, could not be established. All the parties
involved will have to collaborate more closely if major progress is to be made
in the FABEC venture; and much work still clearly lies ahead before the vision
of a Single European Sky becomes an operating reality.
Outlook for 2012
After a highly encouraging 2011, skyguide expects 2012 to be a difficult
business year. The main reason for such caution is the uncertain economic
climate in Europe, which is itself the result of the current debt crisis.
Traffic growth projections for the year have already been downwardly revised,
and the volumes expected are currently slightly below those of 2011. Skyguide
does not expect to see renewed traffic growth before 2013. The uncertainty over
the euro casts a further cloud over the prospects for 2012 in business terms.
From 2012 onwards, all of Europe's air navigation service providers - including
skyguide - will be issued with concrete and highly ambitious financial and
capacity performance targets by the European Commission. Given the foundations
it has laid over the past few years, skyguide is well equipped to meet and
master the challenge of competing in this European environment.
Skyguide's 2011 Annual Report is available online at:
http://www.skyguide.ch/en/discover/publications/publications/annual-report/
skyguide
swiss air navigation services ltd.
media relations
CH-1215 Geneva 15
Contact:
phone: +41 22 417 4008
email: presse(at)skyguide.ch
internet:www.skyguide.ch
Skyguide is responsible for providing air navigation services within Swiss
airspace and in the airspace of certain adjoining regions in neighbouring
countries. The company guides the civil and military aircraft entrusted to its
care - around 3,270 flights a day or 1.2 million a year - through the busiest
and most complex airspace in Europe. Skyguide is a non-profit limited company
which has its head office in Geneva. The majority of its shares are held by the
Swiss Confederation. The company generated total operating revenue of over CHF
427 million in 2011, and employs some 1,400 people at 14 locations in
Switzerland. Skyguide is a member, together with its partner organizations in
Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, of the FABEC
initiative to create a common functional airspace block that will bring greater
efficiency to Central Europe's air traffic management services and activities.
The media release can be downloaded from the following link:
Media release (PDF):
http://hugin.info/134388/R/1599657/504780.pdf
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originality of the information contained therein.
Source: skyguide via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1599657]
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 04.04.2012 - 10:00 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 131934
Anzahl Zeichen: 9587
contact information:
Town:
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Kategorie:
Business News
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