THIRD QUARTER REVENUE GROWTH OFFSETS HIGHER NET FUEL COSTS

THIRD QUARTER REVENUE GROWTH OFFSETS HIGHER NET FUEL COSTS

• Transformation momentum spurs revenue growth

• Ex-fuel costs well controlled amid capacity expansion

• Risks in the global business environment may weigh on demand

GROUP FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

Third Quarter 2018/19

The SIA Group reported an operating profit of $388 million in the third quarter of the 2018/19 financial year, a decline of $66 million (-14.5%) from last year’s restated profit of $454 million [Note 2], notwithstanding a steep $227 million (+22.2%) increase in net fuel costs. A robust improvement in revenue (+$265 million or 6.5%) largely offset higher fuel and non-fuel expenditure.

Group revenue increased $265 million to $4,342 million on stronger flown revenue (+$248 million), largely driven by growth in passenger demand (+$245 million or 7.7%). Passenger traffic for the Group rose 8.0%, which outpaced the growth in capacity, resulting in a 0.9 percentage-point improvement in passenger load factor to 83.0%. Group RASK (measured in revenue per available seat-kilometres) increased 1.3% as transformation programme momentum continued. Cargo flown revenue was steady against last year (+$3 million or 0.5%), as stronger yields (+3.4%) offset the lower loads carried (-2.8%). Revenue contribution by engineering services rose $16 million (+14.2%), led by higher airframe maintenance activities.

Expenditure for the Group rose $331 million to $3,954 million (+9.1%), mainly due to higher net fuel cost (+$227 million or 22.2%). Fuel cost before hedging for the Group rose by $285 million, predominantly due to a US$16 per barrel (+21.1%) increase in average jet fuel price, partially alleviated by a larger hedging gain versus last year (+$58 million or 131.6%).

Group net profit declined $105 million (-27.0%) to $284 million, as the weaker operating profit was exacerbated by share of losses of the Group’s joint ventures (-$28 million), in particular NokScoot, which saw its results being adversely impacted by the rise in fuel prices and intense competition.

Third Quarter Operating Results of Main Companies

The operating results of the main companies in the Group for the third quarter of the financial year were as follows. Higher fuel cost remains a challenge for the Group airlines.

Operating profit for the Parent Airline Company rose $3 million to $369 million, a result of growth in revenue (+$217 million or 6.6%) outpacing the rise in expenditure (+$214 million or 7.3%). Passenger flown revenue improved $195 million (+7.7%), in line with a 7.3% gain in carriage (measured in revenue passenger-kilometres). With capacity expansion of 5.0% (measured in available seat-kilometres), passenger load factor increased to 83.4% (+1.8 percentage points), which is the highest passenger load factor ever achieved in the third quarter. Despite currency headwinds and unprecedented capacity growth in recent quarters, RASK increased 2.4%, marking the fifth consecutive quarterly improvement. Cargo flown revenue was stable year-on-year (+$3 million), as stronger yields (+3.4%) were partially offset by lower loads carried (-2.8%). The rise in expenditure was led by higher net fuel cost (+$183 million or 21.6%), primarily due to higher fuel prices (+$196 million) and volume consumed (+$16 million) from the expansion in operations, partially mitigated by higher fuel hedging gains (+$45 million). Ex-fuel costs rose $31 million, as costs from the higher traffic and flight activities, including staff costs, were partly mitigated by lower other costs from the return of several leased aircraft.

SilkAir reported a $12 million contraction in operating profit to $7 million. Passenger flown revenue rose $5 million (+1.8%) on 3.8% growth in passenger carriage, with RASK improving by 1.2%. However, expenditure was up $13 million, mostly on higher net fuel cost (+$11 million). Passenger load factor rose 2.3 percentage points to 77.1% as higher traffic exceeded capacity growth (+0.7%).

Scoot recorded an operating profit of $1 million, a $42 million deterioration from last year’s operating profit of $43 million. Passenger flown revenue increased $40 million (+10.1%), supported by passenger traffic growth of 12.1%. However, a higher net fuel bill (+$34 million) and costs of expansion (capacity growth was 17.0%) led to an $89 million increase (+24.0%) in expenditure. Passenger load factor fell 3.6 percentage points to 83.4%, partly contributing to a 5.8% reduction in RASK.

Operating profit for SIA Engineering narrowed to $16 million, $3 million lower from a year ago. The decline was mainly due to a contraction in revenue on lower airframe and fleet management activities, which was partly mitigated by a corresponding reduction in material costs incurred.

April to December 2018

The Group’s operating profit for the nine months to December 2018 declined $402 million to $814 million (-33.1%). Excluding the fuel price increase of 32.6% and prior year’s non-recurring revenue items of $175 million, operating profit for the Group would have been $1,307 million, $267 million higher year-on-year.

Revenue grew $634 million (+5.5%), after adjusting for last year’s non-recurring revenue items. Expenditure for the nine months increased $861 million (+8.1%) on higher fuel costs and capacity growth. Ex-fuel costs were $254 million higher (+3.3%), well within the Group’s capacity growth of 5.9%.

The operating results of the main companies in the Group for the period were as follows:

Except for Scoot, all entities in the Group registered an operating profit for the period, albeit weaker against last year. Revenue growth for the Group airlines was mostly overshadowed by higher net fuel cost. Operating profit for the Parent Airline Company fell $268 million (-25.4%) to $787 million. While improvement in flown revenue (+$475 million) during the nine-month period, principally on passenger traffic growth (+6.4%), was sufficient to offset the increase in net fuel costs (-$461 million), the absence of the prior year’s non-recurring revenue (-$175 million) and increase in ex-fuel costs (-$101 million) arising from expansion in operations resulted in the decline.

SilkAir and Scoot reported weaker operating results, predominantly due to higher net fuel costs. Led by an 8.1% increase in traffic, passenger flown revenue for SilkAir grew $18 million (+2.5%). However, net fuel cost rose $31 million, exacerbated by higher ex-fuel costs from 4.5% capacity growth. In the same period, Scoot’s operating expenditure increased $243 million, of which $115 million was net fuel cost, as capacity expanded 16.5%. This was ahead of revenue growth of $186 million contributed mostly by gains in passenger traffic (+16.8%).

Group net profit for the nine months declined to $480 million, $540 million or 52.9% lower year-on-year, largely due to higher net fuel costs and one-off items in the period. A summary of the effects of the one-off items is as follows:

ROUTE DEVELOPMENT

During the quarter, the Parent Airline Company debuted a regional, two-cabin A350-900 medium haul aircraft, fitted with the latest cabin class products, to Adelaide on 17 December 2018, and launched a fourth daily service to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on 28 December 2018.

In the Northern Summer operating season (31 March 2019 to 26 October 2019) Singapore-Seattle services will be launched, on 3 September 2019, using the A350-900 long-haul aircraft. Subject to regulatory approvals, a third Singapore-Osaka tranche will commence from April 2019.

With Seattle, SIA will serve 64 destinations across 32 countries and territories, including Singapore.

Following a detailed review of the Group network ahead of SilkAir’s merger into SIA, selected SilkAir routes to China, Indonesia, India, Laos, Malaysia and Thailand are planned for transfer to Scoot. Subject to regulatory approvals, this will be done progressively between April 2019 and the second half of 2020 [Note 4]. Notwithstanding the ongoing route transfers, SilkAir will increase flights to Cairns to a daily service, up from the current five-times-weekly, with effect from 2 June 2019. As at 31 December 2018, the carrier flies to 49 destinations in 16 countries, including Singapore.

Due to the transfers from SilkAir, Scoot will commence its maiden, thrice-weekly Singapore-Laos service from 1 April 2019, operated in a circular routing from Vientiane through Luang Prabang. The carrier will take over Trivandrum from May 2019, Coimbatore and Visakhapatnam from October 2019, and Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, from December 2019, all of which are new destinations served by the carrier.

Scoot will also see organic growth by adding Kota Bharu to its network from July 2019, subject to regulatory approval. When Kota Bharu and Kota Kinabalu come on line, Scoot’s footprint in Malaysia will expand from six to eight destinations. Honolulu services will be terminated with effect from June 2019 due to weak demand. As at 31 December 2018, the carrier covers 67 destinations in 18 countries and territories, including Singapore.

With the addition of new destinations, the portfolio of airlines in the Group will serve 140 passenger destinations in 37 countries and territories, including Singapore.

SIA Cargo will continue to pursue charter opportunities and deploy capacity to match demand. The freighter network covers 19 cities in 13 countries and territories, including Singapore.

OUTLOOK

Overall passenger bookings in the forward months are tracking capacity growth, however uncertainties surrounding US-China tariffs and their consequent effects on global trade flows, as well as Brexit, are clouding the overall demand outlook for both passenger and cargo. SIA will continue to be nimble and proactive in responding to pockets of weakness or opportunity by rebalancing supply across the network.

For the fourth quarter of the financial year, the Group has hedged 80% of its fuel requirements in MOPS at a weighted average price of USD74. Longer-dated Brent hedges with maturities extending to the financial year FY2023/24 cover up to 45% of the Group’s projected annual fuel consumption, at average prices ranging from USD55 to USD63 per barrel [Note 5].

Significant progress has been made under the SIA Group’s three-year Transformation programme, enabled by the strong support of employees. Against a challenging operating environment, the Group’s suite of services and products launched over the past year, including new non-stop services and cabin upgrades, helped enhance the customer experience and grow revenue, while realising operational and cost efficiencies.

The recent opening of KrisLab is also a significant step towards enhancing SIA’s digital capabilities. Serving as a creative test bed for internal innovation and co-creation with external partners, the lab will enable the Group to fully embrace digitalisation and technology in all aspects of its business operations.

While the numerous industry accolades received over the past year are testament to the Group’s efforts to strengthen its leadership position, the SIA Group will sustain its transformation momentum to bolster its competitive edge in the face of challenging operating conditions.

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GROUP FINANCIAL STATISTICS

OPERATING STATISTICS

PARENT AIRLINE COMPANY FINANCIAL RESULTS

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