AIRFRANCE KLM full year 2015 results: back in the black figures

Key data

The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been revised as of 1^st January 2015 in order to improve their clarity. The changes are:

• In view of its rapid development, Transavia is now presented as a separate business segment. The passenger business segment is thus renamed from “passenger” to “passenger network”.
• Capitalized production costs are no longer deducted from individual cost lines in the profit and loss statement, but are instead fully allocated to the “Other income and expenses” line. The impact per quarter of this restatement is provided in the appendix.
• Foreign currency effects on provisions are no longer recorded in “Amortization, depreciation and provisions” but in “Other financial income and expenses”. The closing exchange rate is used to convert provisions at the closing date. Previously, the Group used the average rate of the US dollar to convert maintenance provisions. The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2014 have been restated for reason of comparison. The impact of this restatement is provided in the appendix.
• The costs of temporary staff are no longer recorded in “External expenses” but in “Salaries and related costs”.

Full year 2015

Full Year 2015 total revenues stood at 26.1 billion euros versus 24.9 billion euros in 2014, up 4.6%. Corrected for the strike impact, revenues increased by 2.5% mainly as a result of a strong currency tailwind. Total revenues were down 3.2% like-for-like.

The Fourth Quarter 2015 results were affected by the Paris terrorist attacks in November. The estimated impact in the Fourth Quarter 2015 revenues was 120 million euros.

Total operating costs were up +0.8% year-on-year and 5.8% lower on a like-for-like basis. Ex-fuel, they increased by 3.5% and by 1.1% on a like-for-like basis. Unit cost per EASK was reduced by 0.6%, on a constant currency, fuel price and pension basis, against capacity measured in EASK up by +0.2%, corrected for the strike.

The 2015 fuel bill amounted to 6,183 million euros, down 6.7% and 22.3% like-for-like. Based on the forward curve at 5 February 2016, the Full Year 2016 fuel bill could amount to 4.5 billion euros[1]

Total employee costs including temporary staff were up 2.8% to 7,852 million euros. They included a non-cash increase of 139 million euros in pension related expenses at KLM due to changes in actuarial assumptions (lower discount rate). On a constant scope and pension expense basis and adjusted for the strike, they increased by 0.7%. Excluding the profit sharing scheme, net employee costs decreased by 0.2%.

In Full Year 2015, the positive currency impact on revenues reached 1,510 million euros. In spite of the higher profits on currency hedging, the negative impact on costs reached 1,688 million euros. The net impact of currencies on the operating result thus amounted to a negative 178 million euros.

EBITDAR amounted to 3,474 million euros, a reported increase of 1,012 million euros. Like-for-like, EBITDAR increased by 585 million euros, mainly driven by good second half trading. Over the Full Year 2015, 30% of the savings achieved on the fuel bill were retained; positive 1,721 million euros excluding currency was partially offset by pressure on unit revenues (negative 1,028 million euros excluding currency) and currency impacts (negative 178 million euros).

EBITDA amounted to 2,447 million euros, an increase of 858 million euros. Like-for-like, EBITDA increased by 576 million euros, mainly as a result of the strong Passenger network performance, which improved by 625 million euros like-for-like over the full year.

GROUP FLEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2015