SAS Serves Record Passenger Numbers in May 2017

SAS has published its traffic figures for May 2017

  • SAS Scheduled traffic (RPK) increased 8.0% and the capacity (ASK) was up 7.2%.
  • The load factor increased by 0.5 p.u. versus last year to 74.0%.
  • Scheduled number of passengers increased by 3.3% to a record of 2.6 million passengers for May.
  • The preliminary currency adjusted yield was down 3% and the PASK was down 2% in May 2017 vs. last year. The nominal yield was unchanged and the nominal PASK increased 1% vs. last year.

Market development

Although the demand is growing, the operating environment is challenging, with the yield at historically low levels, SAS states. In addition, jet fuel prices have increased versus last year and the USD is at unfavourable levels. During May, the demand has continued to develop in line with previous months with the strongest growth on intercontinental and European leisure routes.

In fiscal year 2016/2017, SAS’s total capacity growth (ASK) will amount to 6–8%. The growth will primarily be driven by a full-year effect from the new intercontinental routes that commenced during 2015/2016, increased production on European leisure routes and the fact that the Airbus A320neo is larger than the aircraft it will replace. The number of flights is expected to increase by about 2%.

SAS scheduled traffic development in May

SAS increased its scheduled capacity in May by 7.2% and the traffic grew by 8.0%, resulting in an increased load factor by 0.5 p.u. to 74.0%.

SAS intercontinental traffic increased 9.8% and the capacity was up 9.6%. The growth is driven by a year-to-year affect from the added capacity on one route between Scandinavia and Miami compared to last year. On the existing network, the development was strongest on Asian routes.

The traffic on SAS’s European/Intrascandinavian routes increased by 7.5%. This was driven by a more than 10% growth on SAS’s leisure routes and positive development between Scandinavia and more business oriented European cities.

On SAS’s domestic routes, the capacity was increased by 5.2% and the traffic was up by 4.8%. The traffic had a positive development in Norway and Sweden and grew strongly on Danish domestic routes due to the new route to the Faroe Islands.

 

Marisa Garcia

After working for sixteen years in aviation, specializing in aircraft interiors design and aviation safety equipment, and getting hands-on with aircraft cabins in hangars around the world, Marisa Garcia turned her expertise into industry insight. She has been reporting on aviation matters since 2014. Every day, she's putting words to work.

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