EANS-News: Air Berlin PLC / Air Berlin records an EBIT of minus EUR 28.2 million for the second quarter

Charges due to volcanic eruption amount to EUR 40 million

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Financial Figures/Balance Sheet/6-month report/ Q2 - figures

Subtitle: Charges due to volcanic eruption amount to EUR 40 million

London/ Berlin (euro adhoc) - Air Berlin PLC's consolidated sales for
the second quarter of 2010 decreased to EUR 877 million due to the
charges incurred as a result of the volcanic eruption in Iceland and
the prolonged flight ban resulting therefrom. In the corresponding
period of the previous year, consolidated sales (pro-forma, i.e.
including the acquired TUIfly City Carrier business) amounted to EUR
935 million. EBITDAR (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation,
amortization and leasing expenses) amounts to EUR 124.3 million. In
the pro-forma comparison, this figure amounted to EUR 160.1 million.
EBIT (Earnings before interest and taxes) for the second quarter
amounts to minus EUR 28.2 million due to the flight restrictions
related to the volcanic eruption in April. In the corresponding
quarter of the previous year, EBIT amounted to EUR 15.3 million (on a
pro-forma basis). Net result for the second quarter of 2010 amounts
to minus EUR 56.9 million, as compared to a Group result (including
the acquired TUIfly City Carrier business) of EUR 4.7 million for the
second quarter of 2009. The number of passengers traveling on Air
Berlin in the second quarter of 2010 decreased by 3.1 percent to 7.99
million.

On a pro-forma basis, business in the first quarter of 2010 still
showed an improvement over the corresponding period of the previous
year. However, the exceptional charges resulting from natural
phenomena occurring in the second quarter had a negative impact on
the earnings statement for the first half-year of 2010. For the
half-year period, sales revenue amounted to EUR 1.567 billion, i.e.
4.8 percent less than in the corresponding period of the previous
year (2009: EUR 1.647 billion). EBITDAR for the half-year period
decreased by 11 percent to EUR 168.3 million (2009: EUR 189.1
million). EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization) amounts to minus EUR 78.5 million (2009: minus EUR 39
million) and results from operations (EBIT) amount to minus EUR 126.9
million (2009: minus EUR 92.3 million), on a pro-forma basis.

In addition to the charge resulting from the flight cancellations in
the second quarter, the results for the first half-year of 2010 were
also burdened by the significantly higher cost related to the harsh
winter conditions in the first quarter of the year. For instance,
service delays, de-icing and longer waiting times resulted in charges
amounting to a total of approximately EUR 28 million. Overall, for
the 1st half-year of 2010, exceptional charges approximating EUR 69
million had to be absorbed.

The harsh winter, the weak start of the year, and the numerous flight
cancellations related to the volcanic eruption in Iceland negatively
impacted the number of passengers: After a positive development in
February and March, the number of passengers in April decreased by
16.5 percent as compared to the corresponding month of the previous
year. The uncertainty with respect to the prospect of further
eruptions of the Icelandic volcano led to a very weak recovery of the
passenger volume. For the six-month period, the number of passengers
decreased by 0.8 percent to 14.23 million (2009: 14.34 million
passengers). Fleet capacity rose by 2.2 percent to 19.6 million. The
seat load factor (seat capacity utilization) decreased by 2.18
percentage points to 72.59 percent.

Developments of the passenger numbers observed in the first weeks of
the current quarter point towards improved business for the second
half of the year. Furthermore, growing consumer confidence in Germany
is likely to bring about further positive impulses. On the expenses
side, Air Berlin's optimized hub concept and relentless cost control
should have a positive effect on the operating margin. Moreover,
one-time earnings stemming from the previously announced sale of
aircraft and occurring in connection with the first-time
consolidation of the subsidiary company NIKI will compensate for the
exceptional charges incurred in the first half-year of 2010.
Therefore, Air Berlin's Board of Directors upholds its previous
forecast that earnings before interest and taxes in 2010 will surpass
those of the previous year.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: Air Berlin PLC & Co Luftverkehrs KG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Hans-Christoph Noack

Director Corporate Communications

Tel.: +49 (0)30 3434 1500

Fax: +49 (0)30 3434 1509

E-Mail: abpresse@airberlin.com

Branche: Air Transport
ISIN: GB00B128C026
WKN: AB1000
Index: SDAX, Classic All Share, Prime All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
Hamburg / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
Düsseldorf / free trade
München / free trade