UAE's Etihad Airways recorded a net loss of $1.87 billion in 2016 as one-off impairment charges and fuel hedging losses weighed against a solid performance of the core airline. It posted a total revenue of $8.36 billion.

The loss, which compares to a net profit of $103 million in 2015, was the first for the Gulf carrier since it started making money in 2011.

The core airline business achieved steady passenger revenues of $4.9 billion and 79 per cent load factors while carrying a record 18.5 million passengers. Available seat kilometres (ASKs) increased by 9 per cent to 113.9 billion. Yields fell 8 per cent amid market capacity pressures and the tough global economic climate, but this was partially offset by an 11 per cent reduction in unit costs.

Total impairments of $1.9 billion included a $1.06 billion charge on aircraft, reflecting lower market values and the early phase out of certain aircraft types. There was also a $808 million charge on certain assets and financial exposures to equity partners, mainly related to Alitalia and airberlin.  

Legacy fuel hedging contracts also had a negative bearing on performance in 2016, though this exposure is expected to have less of a financial impact during 2017.  

A slowdown in the cargo market put increased pressure on cargo revenues and yields, and the airline saw a slight improvement in freight carried at 595,519 tonnes for the 12-month period.

Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, chairman of the Board of the Etihad Aviation Group, said: “A culmination of factors contributed to the disappointing results for 2016. The Board and executive team have been working since last year to address the issues and challenges through a comprehensive strategic review aimed at driving improved performance across the group, which includes a full review of our airline equity partnership strategy.

“The record passenger numbers in 2016 affirm Etihad’s role as a significant economic enabler for Abu Dhabi, and our airline business continues to support Abu Dhabi’s vision to develop tourism, grow commerce and strengthen links to key regional and international markets.”

Ray Gammell, Interim group chief executive officer, explained: “We are focused on maintaining the solid performance of our core airline business – operationally and financially – even amid difficult market headwinds. At the same time, we continue to implement changes across the group as part of the comprehensive strategic review, with a focus on improving revenues and reducing costs.

“During 2016, the airline commenced a Right Size & Shape programme that generated total overhead savings of 4 per cent through headcount reductions and other measures by the end of the year, even as capacity and total passenger number increased.

“This year is just as challenging for the global aviation industry and the ever-evolving competitive environment is likely to impact overall performance in 2017. However, our airline business remains strong and class-leading, and as an aviation group, we are in a stronger position.”

Peter Baumgartner, chief executive officer of Etihad Airways, added: “We are in an industry characterised by overcapacity, declining market sizes on key routes, and changing customer behaviour as a weak global economy affects spending appetite.

“Our answer to these challenges is innovation and reinvention, and this gives Etihad Airways a competitive edge as we seek to leverage opportunities offered to us by a changing environment.

“Operationally, we performed well in 2016. We maintained load factor levels even as we increased capacity. Yields were under pressure in all cabins, with Business Class impacted particularly as corporate travel policies continued to encourage flyers to downgrade to Economy.

“Our fuel hedging positions, which helped manage fuel spend during the oil price boom, yet significantly impacted our cost base last year, will taper during 2017. We are also seeing promising improvements in the contribution made by our ancillary revenue strategies, and we expect those to offset some of the yield declines.” - TradeArabia News Service