EANS-News: Air Berlin PLC / airberlin continues to increase revenue

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Company Information/Financial Issues/Balace Sheet/3-Monthsreport/Q2
figures 2012

Subtitle: • CEO Mehdorn: airberlin is on the right track • Efficiency
programme “Shape & Size” reduces impact of external costs • Revenue
increase despite capacity reduction

London / Berlin (euro adhoc) - In the second quarter of 2012,
airberlin once again increased its revenue. Revenue was up 1.7 per
cent to 1.135 billion euros despite a capacity reduction of 5.8 per
cent. Revenue per passenger has therefore continually increased for a
full year now and yield (income per passenger) also increased.
Savings from our efficiency-increasing programme "Shape & Size"
slightly exceeded the projected figure of 45 million euros for the
second quarter by 5 million euros. This counteracted negative impacts
from higher kerosene prices, a higher US dollar exchange rate and the
air traffic tax. In this manner, the effect of higher oil prices on
operational expenses was reduced to only 2.5 per cent, although
kerosene costs, despite the capacity reduction, had increased by 10
per cent.

As airberlin CEO Hartmut Mehdorn stated: "We were able to compensate
for sharply rising external costs with internal measures. The revenue
growth shows that we are on the right track. With our targeted fleet
reduction, we will be less affected by seasonal fluctuations in the
future. We are also investing in the expansion of long haul flights
in an effort to further increase earnings and fly in the profit zone
as planned next year."

The half-year comparison highlights the positive effects resulting
from the "Shape & Size" efficiency-increasing programme. Revenue
increased by 2.7 per cent to 1.948 billion euros (1.897 billion
euros). At the same time, capacity was reduced by 7.6 per cent.
Capacity utilization improved by 2 percentage points to 77.2 per cent
(75.2 per cent) and yield (income per passenger) rose by 3.4 per cent
to 109.06 euros (105.45 euros). EBITDAR (Earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation, amortisation and leasing expenses) was up by
33.2 per cent, reaching 155.3 million euros (116.6 million euros)
despite fuel costs increasing by 70 million euros. EBIT (operating
earnings before interest and taxes) improved by 19 per cent to -178.7
million euros (-220.5 million euros). The net loss increased slightly
to -169.2 million euros (-164.5 million euros) due to market value
losses.

In the second quarter, capacity utilization improved to 77.8 per cent
(77.4 per cent), and yield increased to 108.50 euros (107.66 euros).
EBITDAR (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortisation
and rent) increased to 148 million euros (142.3 million euros) and
EBIT (operating earnings before interest and taxes) rose to -29.4
million euros (-32.2 million euros). The net loss increased to -66.2
million euros (-43.9 million euros).

Equity amounted to 101.3 million euros at the end of the first half
of 2012. CFO Ulf Hüttmeyer: "This is due, on the one hand, to
seasonal effects as well as the evaluation of hedging instruments on
the balance sheet date on the other. Equity improved by 60 million
euros at the end of July due to evaluation differences alone. By the
end of the year we expect a equity ratio better than previous year."
Along with the equity tranche in January, airberlin's largest
shareholder, Etihad Airways, also made a loan of 162.9 million euros
available as of 30th June 2012.

Further inquiry note:
Press Contact:
Uwe Berlinghoff
Senior Vice President Communications
Tel.: + 49 30 3434 1500
Fax: + 49 30 3434 1509
E-Mail: abpresse@airberlin.com

end of announcement euro adhoc
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company: Air Berlin PLC
The Hour House, High Street 32
UK-WD3 1ER Rickmansworth, Herts
phone: +49 (0)30 3434 1500
FAX: +49 (0)30/3434-1509
mail: abpresse@airberlin.com
WWW: http://www.airberlin.com
sector: Air Transport
ISIN: GB00B128C026
indexes: SDAX, Classic All Share, Prime All Share
stockmarkets: free trade: Berlin, München, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart,
regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt
language: English