Skyguide in 2010: still on course despite exceptional developments
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Skyguide in 2010: still on course despite exceptional developments
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Geneva, 13 April 2011. Skyguide reports an overall net surplus of CHF 6.1
million for 2010, an increase on the CHF 2.59 million of 2009. The operating
result for 2010 amounted to CHF -11.69 million, a decline on the CHF -9.14
million of the prior year that was still within budgeted parameters thanks to
continuous cost economies and despite a number of extraordinary events which
impacted adversely on earnings. The red-ink nature of the operating result is
still due to the well-known structural underfunding of the services provided by
skyguide at regional aerodromes and in the adjacent airspace of neighbouring
countries delegated to its control. From 2011 onwards, following changes to the
corresponding legal parameters, the company should be able to gradually
eliminate the accumulated deficit here over the next few years.
Adverse exogenous factors and a severely-weakened euro
Multiple developments combined to impact directly on the revenues generated by
skyguide (Switzerland's joint-stock company for civil and military air
navigation services) in 2010. Total traffic volumes showed only slight 0.8%
growth on their prior-year levels. "The reasons for this modest increase can be
found in the volcanic eruption in Iceland, adverse weather conditions and the
strike actions we saw in several European countries," says CEO Daniel Weder.
Skyguide also suffered from the weakness of the euro against the Swiss franc:
exchange-rate losses depressed results by some CHF 6.4 million for the year as a
whole. Total operating revenue for 2010 amounted to CHF 364.86 million, a slight
0.6% increase on the CHF 362.55 million of 2009. The improvement is attributable
solely to "other" operating revenue, deriving from sources such as the training
provided for employees of outside air navigation service providers and airports.
In view of the lower revenues from its air navigation services, skyguide made
further efforts to lower its costs, saving some CHF 10 million in the course of
the year. The CHF 376.55 million total operating expense was a 1.3% increase on
the CHF 371.69 million of 2009. The operating result remained negative at CHF
-11.69 million (compared to CHF -9.14 million in 2009). The loss incurred
remains attributable to the inadequate remuneration that skyguide currently
receives for the air navigation services which it provides in the public
interest at Switzerland's regional aerodromes and in the adjoining airspace
areas of neighbouring countries that are delegated to its control. The overall
net result for the year amounted to a surplus of CHF 6.1 million (compared to
CHF 2.59 million the previous year), thanks to non-recurring exceptional income
amounts.
Equipped to compete in Europe
Two recent changes to existing legislation will see skyguide compensated in
future for the present funding shortfalls in the services it provides in
adjacent airspace areas outside Switzerland and at the country's regional
aerodromes. The new compensation arrangements are the result of a partial
revision of the Swiss Federal Aviation Act (which entered into effect in 2011)
and the adoption of a special funding provision for aviation that has now been
approved by both chambers of the Swiss Parliament. "We are extremely pleased to
receive this support from the Swiss Confederation and political circles," says
Guy Emmenegger, Chairman of the Board of Directors. "With its improved legal
framework, skyguide will be able to gradually reduce its cumulative deficit of
more than CHF 122 million over the next few years. This is to strengthen our
overall position in Europe in the medium term." Thanks to its good operational
performance achieved in 2010, skyguide is already well positioned.
Joint centre plans shelved
In view of the broader EU-wide initiative to create a Single European Sky,
skyguide has been studying six candidate options for its future operating
location(s). One of these - a joint control centre with Germany's and France's
air navigation service providers located in the trinational border area near
Basel - was examined in more detail in 2010 on behalf of the Swiss, French and
German aviation authorities. The study revealed that a joint centre of this kind
would be feasible in operational terms, but would offer too few economic
benefits if it only resulted in the amalgamation of skyguide's present Dübendorf
and Geneva area control centres: the transfer of authority over a few French and
German airspace sectors to the proposed new facility would not be sufficient for
the project to make financial sense. Given the results of the study, the three
national aviation authorities have concluded that the circumstances are not
currently propitious for establishing a joint control centre. At the same time,
the three air navigation service providers involved have confirmed their desire
to further pursue their collaboration within the Functional Airspace Block
Europe Central (FABEC) project. "We do not rule out establishing a joint centre
or centres some time in the future, either," adds CEO Daniel Weder. "And
skyguide remains open to collaborations, and will continue to consider any and
all strategic options as and when they emerge."
Geneva and Dübendorf to be further interlinked
The further development of its existing operating locations will remain a key
focus of skyguide's actions and activities throughout 2011. Following the
completion of the joint control centre feasibility study, a comparison can now
be made of the six location options. From the current perspective, a greater
harmonisation and interlinking of the two existing control centres in Geneva and
Dübendorf seems to be the most promising option. The aim here will be to achieve
maximum interoperability between the two centres. This in turn should deliver
benefits in terms of safety, security, operating flexibility and cost
efficiency. Skyguide will be looking more closely into the modalities of
pursuing this option over the next few months.
The challenges for 2011
Skyguide expects to see moderate air traffic growth of 2.5% to 3% for 2011 as a
whole. The situation could become more difficult for the company in business
terms if the euro remains weak against the Swiss franc: skyguide incurs 95% of
its operating costs in francs, but generates two-thirds of its revenues in
euros. The unit rates charged by skyguide for its en-route services have been
increasing substantially in euro terms without generating any additional revenue
as a result in real (i.e. Swiss-franc) terms. In addition, the possibilities for
achieving further cost savings at skyguide are now virtually exhausted; and the
company had to increase its route charges at the beginning of 2011 to recoup at
least some of the revenues lost. On a brighter note, skyguide will receive
federal funds for its insufficiently-remunerated services from 2011 onwards,
thanks to the new legal parameters. In view of this, the recent downward trend
should have bottomed out in 2010, and overall results are now likely to recover.
Skyguide's 2010 Annual Report is available online at:
www.skyguide.ch/en/MediaRelations/Publications/
downloadables/skyguide_AR_2010_e.pdf
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 3 170 flights a day or 1.16 million a year - through some of 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 annual operating revenue of
some CHF 365 million for 2010, and employs around 1 400 people at 14 locations
in Switzerland. Skyguide is also a member, together with its sister
organisations 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:
--- End of Message ---
skyguide
Postfach 1518 Zürich-Flughafen Switzerland
WKN: 1957462;ISIN: CH0019574620;
Media release (PDF):
http://hugin.info/134388/R/1505646/440493.pdf
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Source: skyguide via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1505646]
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 13.04.2011 - 10:00 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 53465
Anzahl Zeichen: 10170
contact information:
Town:
Zürich-Flughafen
Kategorie:
Business News
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