honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Hawaiian Air cuts loss almost $10M on revenue increase

Advertiser Staff

Hawaiian Holdings Inc. narrowed its loss to $9.6 million in fourth quarter of 2006 from a loss of $19.5 million during the same period a year earlier. Revenue rose 3.6 percent to $219.6 million. For the full year, Hawaiian lost $40.6 million compared with a $12.4 million loss in 2005.

THE NUMBERS

Revenue: $219.6 million, up 3.6 percent from year ago.

Net income: $9.6 million loss, vs. $19.5 million loss year ago.

Earnings per share: 20-cent loss vs. 43-cent loss year ago.

Expenses: $233.6 million, up 5.1 percent from year ago.

2006 revenue: $888.1 million, up 6.5 percent from 2005.

2006 net income: $40.6 million loss vs. $12.4 million loss in 2005.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The company's flights were 85.2 percent full during the fourth quarter, which is down from fourth quarter 2005's 89.7 percent.

  • Increased capacity from domestic carrier on its Mainland flights and new competition on its interisland routes with the June 9 launch of Mesa Air Group's go! ate into Hawaiian's bottom line.

  • Fuel costs eased from the record levels during the third quarter, but they remained relatively high.

    WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

    "2006 was a challenging year for our business. High fuel prices and intense competition in our trans-Pacific and interisland markets took their toll on our results, while good progress in cost control somewhat mitigated their effects."

    Mark dunkerley
    CEO, Hawaiian Holdings Inc.


    WHAT'S NEXT

    Hawaiian purchased four former Delta Airlines Boeing 767-300 aircraft for $32 million last year, allowing the airline to expand its West Coast-to-Hawai'i service.

    The airline reached a new labor agreement with the machinists union on outsourcing of reservations and some back-office functions, which could result in significant savings.

    Analysts expect earnings to improve this year.