Media release
23 August 2018
Second highest profit in Air New Zealand’s history enables reinvestment in customer experience and staff bonuses
Highlights
• Achieved second highest profit of $540 million
• Investment of approximately $150 million expected over the next four years to enhance customer experience in key areas, including new cabin experience, digital
products and lounges
• Commitment to third short term leased widebody aircraft to further assist with schedule reliability during ongoing maintenance requirements associated with the global
Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine issues
• Staff bonuses of up to $1,800 for all permanent employees who do not participate in a Short Term Incentive programme
Air New Zealand today announced earnings before taxation for the 2018 financial year of $540 million, an increase from
the prior year result of $527 million, representing the second highest profit in the airline’s history. Net profit after
taxation grew 2.1 percent to $390 million.
Shareholders of Air New Zealand will receive a final dividend of 11.0 cents per share, taking the total ordinary
declared dividend for the year to 22.0 cents per share, an increase of 4.8 percent from the prior year. The dividend
will be paid on 19 September, to shareholders on record as at 7 September.
Chairman Tony Carter praised the strength of the result, which demonstrates the airline’s resiliency.
“This is an impressive financial result, driven by strong revenue growth across the airline’s key markets, as well as
continued focus on sustainable cost improvement, despite significantly higher fuel prices.
“The ability of the airline to achieve its second highest profit in such a challenging environment really speaks to the
focused strategy and unique competitive advantages that Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon and his leadership
team have spent years building,” says Mr Carter.
In recognition of the robustness of the 2018 result, the Board has awarded staff bonuses of up to $1,800 to be paid next
week to approximately 8,500 Air New Zealanders who do not have other incentive programmes as part of their employment
agreement.
Mr Luxon acknowledged the impact of external disruptions on the airline’s operational performance and thanked both
customers and staff for their loyalty and support.
“While we are very proud of the financial achievements of the 2018 financial year, I want to acknowledge the patience
and loyalty of our customers who have been impacted by operational disruptions while travelling with us this year. These
disruptions have resulted in a level of service for some that did not meet the high standards we set for ourselves.
“We do not take our customers’ choice to fly with Air New Zealand for granted and remain focused on making improvements
across all touch points of their travel journey,” says Mr Luxon.
To deliver greater schedule reliability for customers going forward, Air New Zealand will be leasing three widebody
aircraft, two Boeing 777-200s and one Boeing 777-300, as well as making adjustments to its schedule as the airline
continues to work through the maintenance requirements associated with the global Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine issues.
“The adjustments to our schedule will essentially free up two widebody aircraft enabling us to provide greater schedule
certainty for customers. This will include adjusting weekly frequency on our Buenos Aires and Taipei services, as well
as seeking to retime our flights to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. We are confident that these proactive steps will result in
better reliability for our customers,” says Mr Luxon.
2019 promises to be an exciting year for the airline and its customers, as Air New Zealand will offer more cheap fares
than ever over the next year as domestic jet capacity grows by three to five percent and regional turboprop capacity
grows by five to seven percent.
“One of the benefits of a growing Air New Zealand is more opportunities than ever for Kiwis to snap up a bargain. In
2019, we will offer more than 2.9 million seats for travel in New Zealand for under $100,” Mr Luxon says.
This year will also see the launch of new direct services to Chicago and Taipei commencing in November, new services to
Brisbane from both Wellington and Queenstown beginning in December, as well as a new third daily service added to the
Auckland-Singapore route in partnership with Singapore Airlines.
The airline is expecting to receive delivery of 10 Airbus A320/321 NEO aircraft, which will provide continued growth and
cost benefits to the Tasman and Pacific Islands network. Air New Zealand will be the first airline to fly the Airbus NEO
in Australasia. Two Boeing 787-9 aircraft with increased premium cabin space and next generation Rolls-Royce TEN engines
will also join the fleet.
Anticipating continued future domestic network growth, Air New Zealand has announced capital expenditure for seven
Airbus A321 NEO aircraft, with phased delivery expected from 2020 to 2024. The additional aircraft will be deployed on
high demand routes to support further domestic growth. Equipped with new generation engines and approximately 25 percent
more seats, the A321 NEOs are expected to deliver fuel savings and efficiencies of up to 15 percent compared to the
airline’s existing A320 domestic aircraft, helping to reduce carbon emissions.
Air New Zealand’s Pacific Rim growth strategy has allowed for consistently profitable network expansion over the past
five years, with 17 million passengers a year travelling on the airline compared with 13 million back in 2013. The
airline is focusing on continued investment in regional lounges, customer contact centres and inflight products and
services to enhance the customer experience.
Mr Luxon said the airline sees positive demand signals in the short term, with strong forward bookings heading into the
peak summer season and passenger growth expected to continue its upward trajectory.
“Looking out over the next two years, the airline is expecting to grow by one million customers a year, reaching 19
million customers by the end of 2020,” says Mr Luxon.
Outlook
Based upon current market conditions and assuming an average jet fuel price of US$85 per barrel, 2019 underlying
earnings before taxation is expected to be in the range of $425 million to $525 million.
This excludes an estimated $30 million to $40 million impact from schedule changes prompted by the global Rolls-Royce
engine issues.
Financial Highlights
• Record operating revenue of $5.5 billion, up 7.4%
• Earnings before taxation of $540 million, up 2.5%
• Net profit after taxation of $390 million, up 2.1%
• Operating cash flow of $1 billion, up 14%
• Fully imputed final dividend of 11.0 cents per share, bringing the 2018 full year fully imputed ordinary dividends to 22.0 cents per share, an increase of 4.8% from the prior year
Ends