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Singapore Airlines reports first quarterly loss since 2020 as Air India losses and fuel costs weigh

Singapore Airlines reported its first net loss since 2022 on Tuesday, due to losses at its 'associate Air India' and higher jet fuel costs because of the Middle East conflict.

The flag carrier of the city-state posted a loss of S$76.79million ($58.79million) for three months ending June 30 compared to a profit last year of S$186.79million. The last time SIA posted a quarterly loss, it was during the pandemic in the fourth quarter of FY2021/22, which ended on March 31, 2022.

This compares to the LSEG's estimate of a loss at S$4.3m.

The airline's record revenue for the quarter was S$5.71bn, an increase of?19.3% on a year-on-year basis, thanks to strong passenger demand, and a 12% rise in passenger yields. Scoot and SIA carried 10.9 million passengers in a record, an increase of 6.3%. Cargo revenue increased by 33.5%, to S$708 millions, on the back of higher yields and more passengers.

Total expenditure increased by 27.9%, to S$5.61 Billion, mainly due to a 78.5% increase in net fuel prices, which jumped from S$2.25 Billion. After the Middle East conflict broke out on February 28, jet fuel prices spiked, causing fuel cost before hedging to double. Operating profit dropped 73.8%, to S$106 million.

A S$42m drag on the net?loss from a larger share of losses at Air?India in which SIA has a 25% stake was partially offset by an S$85m reduction in tax expenses.

Singapore Airlines reported that demand for air travel and cargo remains strong, but warned that a prolonged Middle East conflict could impact supply chains, global commerce and macroeconomic conditions. ($1 = 1.2927 Singapore Dollars) (Reporting from Julie Zhu and Kumar Tanishk, in Bengaluru. Editing by Vijay Kishore & Louise Heavens).

(source: Reuters)