DUBLIN (dpa-AFX) - Irish airline Aer Lingus Group plc (AERL.L), which is being acquired by International Consolidated Airline Group S.A. (IAG.L, BAIRY, BAY.L), reported that first-half loss before tax slightly widened to 14.82 million euros from 14.14 million euros in the prior-year period.
Loss attributable to the owners of the parent also widened to 12.66 million euros from last year's 12.34 million euros, and loss per share was 2.4 euro cents, wider than 2.3 euro cents a year ago.
Revenue for the period grew 7.4 percent to 748.96 million euros from 697.20 million euros in the same period last year.
Traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs, grew 5.9 percent to 7.70 billion, and capacity, measured in available seat kilometres or ASKs, increased 3.0 percent to 9.83 billion from last year. Passenger load factor also improved 2.2 percentage points to 78.3 percent from a year ago.
Aer Lingus noted that it is currently in an offer period as defined by the Irish Takeover Rules. The Group is therefore not issuing specific guidance with regard to 2015 operating profit performance while it remains in this offer period.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX