First Quarter 2024 Trading Update

Friday, 24-05-2024

17% growth in Revenue and improved EBIT in the seasonally weakest 1st quarter


  • €268,8 mil. Revenue, an increase of 17% vs. Q1-23.
  • 2,9 mil. passengers, 11% increase compared to Q1-23.
  • Positive EBITDA of €33,2 mil., from €19,3 mil. in Q1-23.
  • EBIT loss of €7,2 mil., improved from loss of €14,7 mil. in Q1-23.
  • €21,0 mil. after-tax loss from €14,4 mil. after-tax loss in Q1-23.
AEGEAN announces its key financial and operating results for the first quarter of 2024. Revenue reached €268,8 mil., 17% higher than Q1-23.

Following 2023 high performance, AEGEAN continued its growth path, further increasing capacity in the winter months. The Group offered 10% more seats on its international network which included 85 direct routes from the country’s two main airports. The Group offered 3,8 bil. ASKs, 12% more than Q1-23 and welcomed 2,9 million passengers, 11% more than Q1-23, out of which 1,7 million passengers from/to international destinations. Load factor reached 82%.

AEGEAN maintained its growth trajectory and along with efficient cost management has improved EBITDA profit to €33,2 mil., from €19,3 mil. in Q1-23, as well as operating results with EBIT losses narrowing to €7,2 mil. from €14,7 mil. in Q1-23.

The Group continues its fleet investment plan with 7 new aircraft delivered since March 2023, while has also extended operating leases, reaching a fleet of 79 aircraft, thus impacting depreciation cost by 19% compared to Q1-23.

Despite the improvement in the operating result, net losses reached €21,0 mil. from net losses of €14,4 mil in Q1-23, mainly due to adverse USD movement since the start of the year which has impacted the valuation of future leases liabilities.

During Q1-24 AEGEAN recorded robust cash flow generation of €188,6 mil. due also to higher pre-bookings for the summer period. On 31.03.2024, cash, cash equivalents and other financial investments reached €729 mil. 1, including the outflow of €85,4 mil. for the buyback of warrants on 02.01.2024.

Mr. Dimitris Gerogiannis, AEGEAN’s CEO, commented:
“AEGEAN’s effort to soften the seasonality impact is visible in its international network capacity investment as well as in the revenue and passengers’ growth. Once more in the seasonally weakest quarter, AEGEAN delivered higher EBITDA profitability, demonstrating its resilience, its adaptability and its competitive cost structure.
We are prepared for another strong summer season, expanding routes and adding frequencies focusing on our growth out of Athens and Thessaloniki bases. We are working to broaden the options and services offered and constantly improve the travel experience.
We continue to see strong demand for the summer period. Nevertheless, it is still too early to estimate the overall outcome of the summer season which typically shapes our results.
At the same time, it is very encouraging that the effort to develop our MRO business as well as the Flight Simulator and Crew Training Centre is maturing. Within 12 months the building renovation and upgrade is complete, and the first 4 simulators are already operational covering both AEGEAN’s and third parties’ training needs. The Group has also started to provide heavy maintenance services to third party customers”.


1 Includes Financial Assets of €113,8 mil. and restricted cash of €0,5 mil.

Financial Results and Operating Metrics for the First Quarter of 2024
(in € mil.) First Quarter 2023 First Quarter 2024 % change
Revenue 229,1 268,8 17%
EBITDA 19,3 33,2 72%
EBIT -14,7 -7,2 -
Pre-tax Profit/(Loss) -18,6 -26,3 -
Net Profit/(Loss) -14,4 -21 -


First Quarter 2023 First Quarter 2024 % change
Total Passengers (‘000) 2.581 2.856 11%
RPKs (in mil.) 2.715 3.056 13%
ASKs (in mil.) 3.340 3.751 12%
Load factor - Scheduled services (RPK/ASK) 81,60% 81,70% 0,1pp


Key financial and operating metrics of Q1-23 and Q1-24 as a percentage of the results for the corresponding period of 2019
2019 2023 2024
ASKs 100% 111% 124%
Revenue 100% 133% 156%
RASK 100% 120% 126%
CASK (EBIT level) 100% 103% 103%
CASK (EBIT level) – excl. fuel costs 100% 96% 98%


Net Debt Analysis

(in € mil.) 31.12.2023 31.03.2024
Cash and cash equivalents 709,3 728,9
Borrowings 220,3 218,3
Lease Liabilities 901,2 970,7
Net Debt 412,2 460,1
Net Debt/ (Net Cash) excluding Lease Liabilities -489 -510,6
EBITDA1- 12month trailing
Net Debt / ΕBITDA
400,4
1,0x
414,2
1,1x
Note:
1 12-month trailing Earnings/(Losses) before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), Jan. - Dec. 2023 and Apr. 2023 - Mar. 2024 respectively.


AEGEAN at a glance

(in € mil.) First Quarter 2023 First Quarter 2024 % change
Revenue 229,1 268,8 17%
EBITDA 19,3 33,2 72%
EBIT -14,7 -7,2 -
Pre-tax Profit/(Loss) -18,6 -26,3 -
Net Profit/(Loss) -14,4 -21 -
Total passengers (‘000) 2.581 2.856 11%
Average passengers per flight 126 126 0%
Load factor - Scheduled services (RPK/ASK) 81,60% 81,70% 0,1pp
Load factor - Scheduled services (Pax/AVS) 80,00% 80,60% 0,6pp
Average sector length (km) 891 920 3%
RASK (Revenue per ASK, in € cents)1 6,9 7,2 5%
Yield (in € cents)1 8,4 8,8 4%
CASK (EBT level, in € cents) 7,7 8 5%
CASK (EBT level, in € cents) - excl. fuel costs 5,8 6,3 9%
Note:
1 Excluding other operating income.


Consolidated Income Statement – First Quarter 2024

(in € mil.) First Quarter 2023 First Quarter 2024 % change
Scheduled Services 200 236,3 18%
Charter 2,5 3,6 47%
Other 26,6 28,9 8%
Total Revenue 229,1 268,8 17%
Other operating income 7,9 6,6 -16%
Employee benefits -30,5 -38 25%
Aircraft fuel -62,8 -65,2 4%
Aircraft maintenance -23,3 -33,3 43%
Overflight expenses -12,6 -15,4 22%
Ground handling expenses -15,9 -18,1 14%
Airport charges -16,1 -17,4 8%
Catering expenses -8,3 -8,8 5%
Distribution expenses -13,8 -18,9 37%
Marketing & advertising expenses -5 -4,2 -17%
Other operating expenses -27,1 -20,9 -23%
Leases -2,1 -2 -6%
EBITDA 19,3 33,2 72%
Depreciation -34 -40,3 19%
EBIT -14,7 -7,2 -
EBIT margin
   Financial results
   Share of profit / (loss) in associates
-6,40%
-3,9
0
-2,70%
-18,8
-0,3

-
-
Pre-tax Profit/(Loss) -18,6 -26,3 -
EBT margin -8,10% -9,80%
Income Tax 4,2 5,3 27%
Net Profit/(Loss) after tax -14,4 -21 -


Balance Sheet Aegean Group- Summary

(in € mil.) 31.12.2023 31.03.2024
Total Fixed Assets 1.474,50 1.571,70
Cash & Cash Equivalents1 576,2 615,2
Financial Assets Available for Sale2 133,1 113,8
Other Current Assets 228,8 256,2
Total Assets 2.412,70 2.556,80
Total Equity 418,8 417,3
Lease Liabilities 901,2 970,7
Loans 220,3 218,3
Other Non-Current Liabilities 119,6 117,1
Other Current Liabilities 752,7 833,3
Total Equity and Liabilities 2.412,70 2.556,80
Notes:
1 Includes restricted cash of €0,5 mil. on 31/12/2023 and €0,5 mil. on 31/03/2024.
2 Includes pledged fixed income securities of €10,6 mil. on 31/12/2023 and €10,6 mil. on 31/03/2024.


Cash Flow Aegean Group - Summary

(in € mil.) 31.12.2023 31.03.2024
Net cash inflows/(outflows) from operating activities 138,6 188,6
Net cash inflows/(outflows) from investing activities -3,7 -47,8
Net cash inflows/(outflows) from financing activities -74,9 -123,5
Net (decrease)/ increase in cash and cash equivalents 59,9 17,2
Cash at the beginning of the period1 527,9 709,3
Foreign exchange difference impact in cash 3,2 3,2
Cash and cash equivalents of asset held for sale - -0,8
Cash at the end of the period1 591,1 728,9
Notes:
1 Includes restricted cash and Financial Assets Available for Sale.


Group operating figures

First Quarter 2023 First Quarter 2024 % change
Capacity
   ASKs (in millions)
   Total available seats (‘000)
   Total Block Hours
   Total Sectors Flown
   Average capacity per flight
   Average sector length (km)

3.340
3.236
33.782
20.445
158
891

3.751
3.549
38.306
22.675
157
920

12%
10%
13%
11%
-1%
3%
Passengers (΄000)
By type of service:
   Schedule passengers
   Charter passengers
By network:
   Domestic
   International
Total number of passengers
RPKs (in millions)
Average passengers per flight


2.565
16

1.028
1.553
2.581
2.715
126


2.832
24

1.142
1.714
2.856
3.056
126


10%
50%

11%
10%
11%
13%
0%
Load factor- Scheduled Services (Pax/AVS)
Load factor- Scheduled Services (RPK/ASK)
80,00%
81,60%
80,60%
81,70%
0,6pp
0,1pp