New Zealand's national carrier Air New Zealand has announced a slashing of profit forecast for the year to June, as well as the suspension of services to Seoul.
Air NZ is estimating the impact of the coronavirus could knock as much as $75 million off its profits for the June 2020 year.
It's suspending services to Seoul from March 7 till at this stage at least June. This follows on from previous curtailment of services to China.
The airline says that in the period to June its total capacity to Asia will be down 17%.
The fact that Air NZ is forecasting such severe disruption across the first two quarters of this calendar year will be a red flag to those who have been optimistically hoping that the effects of the virus on the NZ economy may be dealt with within just the first quarter of this year.
Air NZ said this in a statement to NZX on Monday:
"While the situation is uncertain, based on our current assumptions of lower demand as well as the benefit of the announced capacity reductions and lower jet fuel prices, the airline currently expects a net negative impact to earnings in the range of $35 million to $75 million as a result of coronavirus. At the midpoint of the estimated range above, which is approximately $55 million, the airline is targeting earnings before other significant items and taxation to be in a range of approximately $300 million to $350 million."
Previously - as recently as January 28 - Air NZ had forecast profits before other significant Items and taxation to be in the range of $350 million to $450 million for the June year.
The airline is announcing its earning for the half-year to December on Thursday (February 27).
Air NZ said that immediate steps had been taken to mitigate the impact of lower demand including adjustments to capacity across the Asia, Tasman and Domestic networks. The airline is also increasing market development investment to drive additional demand, specifically across its Domestic and Tasman markets. These actions, in addition to the reduced market price for jet fuel, will partially mitigate the impact of lower demand, however overall earnings for the 2020 financial year will be adversely impacted.
This is a summary of some of the moves:
• Previously announced capacity reductions across Asia routes, predominantly related to Shanghai and Hong Kong services.
• The airline announces today that services to Seoul will be temporarily suspended from 7 March through the end of June.
• Total Asia capacity will thereby reduce by 17% for the months of February through June
• Tasman capacity reductions of 3% from March through May
• Reductions in Domestic capacity of 2% across March and April, focused on Christchurch and Queenstown services to/from Auckland
44 Comments
More in response to the virus.
Especially .South Korea.
Government may well be considering wiring/direct $ transfers into everyone accounts so as folk might get through the next few months.
Govt may increase travel ban countries.
Iran
S Korea
Japan
Italy
Vietnam & Thailand.
Just the tip of the iceberg: dropping airline sales will have a downstream ripple effect on other parts of the international tourism industry.
About 1660 rooms in 13 hotels are expected to open their doors this year, and 1080 of those are in Auckland in seven hotels.
CCP's leadership is one of the most important factors that such a contagious virus can be contained in such a short period of time in China.
Countries without CCP will suffer greatly from the quick spread of the virus -- now we are seeing number exploding in South Korea, Japan and Italy.
And soon, we will see number explode in South Asia, Europe, South East Asia, and Americas and finally in Australasia.
China did nothing for 3-4 weeks between late Decemeber when they knew about it (only 100's of cases) and late January when there were more than 10 thousand cases. They pre-warned Wuhan residents that they were about to be quarantined so that millions fled spreading it far and wide. They have been lying about the true numbers since the start, and it is only a fantasy that there is any sort of containment - it continues to grow quickly. They have demonstrated the monumental incompetence and damage that corrupt fear-driven autocracies with their default instinct to cover-up problems always display in crisis.
The CCP contained nothing. Everyone is going to be sent back to work to stop the economy imploding. The virus is endemic and will continue to spread rapidly in China. 450 people per day dying of COVID19 in Wuhan alone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-nv7j9HEgY
The end is nigh for that honey loving bear (here's hoping). If that happens we will really find out how much honey he has stashed away at the expense of the people.
Very good report. 10 days old now. But shows the scale of the lies coming from China. Even 20 days back there were ~60% of deaths occurring at home, and about 4-5x more people than normal dying. 450 a day, which, even with no increase would mean 15000 just in Wuhan in last month. China admits to only 2500 since start of outbreak. Shows that true numbers of deaths and infections are 10-100x larger. China has now cut off internet in badly affected areas to stop embarrassing stories that show their lies leaking out.
When the cities of Beijing are empty, you can't help but start doubting the official death toll. China wouldn't implement such extreme measures if it was just 2000 dead...
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-51565016/coronavirus-walking-thr…
Also, the banks' propaganda that this is only gonna have a short term effect is BS. It's just starting to get bad in countries outside China. My guess is that China's also not past the worst yet.
CJ, I've just:
by CourtJester | 24th Feb 20, 12:46pm
Reported your "anti" CCP propaganda for the 3rd time... Not sure why the moderator allows this.
LOL
I added the "anti" of course
The answer to your question is freedom of speech, no matter how outlandish it may seem, even your opinion
Multiple flights a week still arriving directly from China. Air China ex Beijing. China Southern from Guangzhou, China Eastern from Shanghai.Throughout the entire period of the "travel ban". Would love to know what the average number of passengers is arriving on these flights. Or do the Chinese government-sponsored airlines not mind flying empty planes around. Are the passengers all really NZ Permanent residents or immediate family of permanent residents? Are they all self-isolating for 14 days after arrival?
Air NZ needs to serious scenario planning , like they have never needed before , and should immediately take steps to understand the full extent of likely spare capacity , and do whatever it can to delay contracts for new aircraft ............... this is not a time for navel gazing ...............
We welcome your comments below. If you are not already registered, please register to comment.
Remember we welcome robust, respectful and insightful debate. We don't welcome abusive or defamatory comments and will de-register those repeatedly making such comments. Our current comment policy is here.