Aer Lingus Back to Profitability
Aer Lingus recorded an operating profit before exceptional items of €45 million for the full year 2022, a solid performance showing that the airline is recovering well following two years of significant losses. This compares to a pre-pandemic 2019 operating profit before exceptional items of €276 million.
Aer Lingus ramped up its operations significantly in preparation for the summer peak and continued to rebuild its network, reaching 2019 capacity levels for quarter four of 2022. Losses before exceptional items of €95m in the first half of the year were offset by €139 million operating profit before exceptional items in quarter three and followed by €1m operating profit before exceptional items in quarter four.
Leisure travel has been key to recovery particularly in the peak holiday periods, with business travel also recovering but at a slower pace. There has been high market demand for European sun destinations and North Atlantic routes, with notable strength in inbound US passengers. The new Aer Lingus Manchester base also performed well in its first full year of operations.
2022 saw Aer Lingus welcome almost 1,000 new people into the airline and take delivery of two Airbus 320 neo aircraft, with much-improved fuel efficiency and reduced noise emissions. Two Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) agreements were signed during the year – important steps on the sustainability journey.
“While we are mindful that business travel recovery lags that of leisure, and that global macro-economic uncertainties causing higher oil prices, exchange rate fluctuations, rising interest rates and inflation could impact aviation this year, there is much for Aer Lingus to build on in 2023,” the company said in a statement.
2023 will see Aer Lingus operating its largest-ever North American network, putting additional capacity on their European leisure routes and adding three new summer routes to Kos (Greece), Sardinia (Italy) and Brindisi (Italy). Looking ahead, the airline said a continued recovery is well on track with strong forward bookings. This recovery positions Aer Lingus to rebuild financial health and invest in the business.
About the Author
Mark Dwyer Mark is an airline pilot flying the Boeing 737 for a major European airline. In addition he is also a Type Rating Instructor, Type Rating Examiner and Base Training Captain on the B737. Outside of commercial flying Mark enjoys flying light aircraft from the smallest 3 Axis microlights up to heavier singles. He is also an instructor and EASA Examiner on single engines and a UK CAA Examiner. He flies the Chipmunk for the Irish Historic Flight Foundation (IHFF). Mark became the Chairman of the National Microlight Association of Ireland (NMAI) in 2013 and has overseen a massive growth in the organisation. In this role he has worked at local and national levels. In 2015, Mark won ‘Upcoming Aviation Professional Award’ at the Aviation Industry Awards sponsored by the IAA. Mark launched this website back in 2002 while always managing the website, he has also been Editor and Deputy Editor of FlyingInIreland Magazine from 2005 to 2015.
Related Posts
Ireland West Welcomes Aer Lingus New Service to London Heathrow →
InflightFlix Signs Major Content Deal with Aer Lingus →
Three New Routes for Aer Lingus in Summer 2023 →
