Skyguide in 2009: position strengthened in a difficult economic environment
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
skyguide / Skyguide in 2009: position strengthened in a difficult economic environment processed and transmitted by Hugin AS. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Geneva, 13 April 2010. Skyguide strengthened its position in 2009 in what proved
a difficult year in economic terms. The general recession prompted a decline of
around 7.2 per cent in total air traffic volume, compared to the prior year. But
by taking prompt corrective action, skyguide was able to offset the
corresponding revenue decline. As a result of these actions, the CHF 9.14
million operating loss sustained for the 2009 business year was smaller than the
budgeted deficit of CHF 12.01 million. Skyguide still sustained a loss for the
year, however. The red-ink operating result continues to reflect the current
cost underrecovery for the company's services at regional aerodromes and for the
services provided in the adjoining airspace of neighbouring countries delegated
to its control.
Crisis-related revenue decline offset
The 7.2-per-cent year-on-year fall seen for 2009 in the volume of flights
controlled by skyguide swiss air navigation services ltd. was the steepest such
decline for 25 years. The lower traffic volume reduced operating revenue by 2.6
per cent, from the CHF 372.29 million of 2008 to CHF 362.55 million, a level
which was also CHF 13 million below budgeted projections. Thanks to its early
adoption of an economic action plan - which included prioritising projects,
reducing outstanding vacation and overtime hours and general budget reductions -
the company was able to offset the additional revenue decline deriving from the
current economic crisis. Needless to say, these actions did not extend to any
projects relating to the safety of the company's operations.
Total operating expense was reduced 1.5 per cent, from the CHF 377.38 million of
2008 to CHF 371.69 million. Despite these efforts, however, the operating result
for the year was a loss of CHF 9.14 million (which compares to an operating loss
of CHF 5.09 million for the prior year). The deficit stems from those services
which skyguide provides in the public interest at regional aerodromes and in
adjacent airspace areas of neighbouring countries that have been delegated to
its control, which are still not (or are not adequately) remunerated under
current financing arrangements. Skyguide posted an overall net surplus of CHF
2.59 million for 2009 (compared to an overall net loss of CHF 54.96 million for
the prior year). The year-on-year increase is due to the revaluation of the
company's lease-and-lease-back business.
Structures being revised thanks to political support
"2009 was a tough year, but a successful one for skyguide, too," says Guy
Emmenegger, Chairman of the Board of Directors. "We achieved all our corporate
objectives. And we also moved a step closer to securing a political solution to
the present cost underrecovery at our regional aerodromes and in our delegated
airspace." On the latter point, the voters of Switzerland approved the creation
of a special funding mechanism for the country's aviation in November 2009. New
legislation will now need to be passed to determine exactly how these funds will
be allocated. In a further development, the first partial revision of the Swiss
Federal Aviation Act has seen skyguide receive support from the aviation
community and the Swiss government and National Council for its needs and
concerns. The draft new legislation here will be put before the Council of
States in the course of this year.
Impressive business endeavours
That the cost-reduction measures adopted at skyguide have proved so effective is
due in particular to the efforts and commitment of the company's personnel. "The
economic action plan we devised has demanded a lot of everyone," says CEO Daniel
Weder. "So I would like to offer my thanks to all our personnel, who have been
so directly involved in these cost-saving endeavours." Despite the negative
operating result, skyguide intends to keep its charges for 2010 at their current
levels. "We want to support our customers in these difficult economic times, and
we want to strengthen our position in the European air navigation services
landscape: that's why we're bearing this financial burden ourselves," Weder
explains. "At the same time," he adds, "we expect to have a clearer picture soon
of the political decisions on how to resolve our current cost underrecoveries."
The 2009 Skyguide Annual Report is available online at:
http://www.skyguide.ch/en/MediaRelations/Publications/downloadables/skyguide_AR_
2009_e.pdf
Skyguide
swiss air navigation services ltd.
media relations
CH-1215 Geneva 15
Contact:
phone: +41 22 417 4008
email: presse(at)skyguide.ch
internet: www.skyguide.ch
Skyguide is responsible for providing air navigation services within Swiss
airspace and in the airspace of certain adjoining regions in neighbouring
countries. The company guides the civil and military aircraft entrusted to its
care - around 3 150 flights a day or 1.15 million a year - through some of the
busiest and most complex airspace in Europe. Skyguide is a non-profit limited
company which has its head office in Geneva. The majority of its shares are held
by the Swiss Confederation. The company generated annual operating revenue of
over CHF 362 million for 2009 and employs some 1 400 people at 14 locations in
Switzerland. Skyguide is also a member, together with its sister organisations
in Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, of the FABEC
initiative to create a common functional airspace block that will bring greater
efficiency to Central Europe's air traffic management services and activities.
The media release can be downloaded from the following link:
[HUG#1402777]
--- End of Message ---
skyguide
Postfach 1518 Zürich-Flughafen Switzerland
WKN: 1957462;ISIN: CH0019574620;
Media release (PDF): http://hugin.info/134388/R/1402777/357240.pdf
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Datum: 13.04.2010 - 02:30 Uhr
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