SWISS 2018 operating profit up 16% on traffic growth, fuel-efficient aircraft

Swiss International Air Lines posted a record operating profit of CHF636m (US$645.9m) for 2018, up 16% from CHF548m in the previous year. The carrier’s total annual revenue rose 7.1% to CHF5.3b, compared to CHF4.9b in 2017. The revenue gains were boosted by traffic growth and the introduction of more fuel-efficient aircraft into the fleet, the airline said. SWISS carried 17.9m passengers in 2018, a 6.2% year-over-year (YOY) increase and a record for the carrier. Traffic, measured in RPKs, was up 5.4% YOY as capacity increased 4.1%, resulting in load factor rising 1 point to 83.4%. The airline added two Boeing 777-300ERs and 13 Bombardier CSeries aircraft (now the Airbus A220) to its fleet in 2018. The investment in new, more efficient aircraft is paying off, CFO Michael Niggemann said at a press conference in Zurich. “For example, our Boeing 777s need 20% less fuel compared to the Airbus A340-300, but offer more seats,” he said.<br/>