NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Business / Companies / Airlines

Air NZ says it'll cope with high fuel, as profits soar

NZ Herald
28 Aug, 2013 11:55 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Air New Zealand says it is confident of coping with higher fuel prices if tension over a possible attack on Syria forces oil prices even higher.

The airline announced its highest net profit in five years which saw its shares bounce by 4.4 per cent to $1.43 in early trading.

While the $182 million profit proved the business was in good shape and it was forecasting an even better result in the current year, chairman John Palmer said the outlook came with conditions.

"That of course is caveated by the global situation both on market demand and fuel prices and of course as we see today the world is not immune from continuing crises."

Chief executive Christopher Luxon said the airline had substantial hedging in place for fuel in the current year.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Fuel will be what fuel will be but we've learned to run our business around that. Our hedging policies allow us time to change to changing circumstances," he said.

Prospects of an American led air strike on Syria have pushed oil prices to a six month high.

See a copy of the airline's results presentation here.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Luxon said Air New Zealand had already learned to build a profitable business around fuel prices that have been close to record highs over the past year.

He said the airline was exploring new international routes and although not prepared to discuss destinations today, announcements would be made in the coming 12 months.

'There's a lot of aggressive work going on in that space. We'll end up with 25 wide body aircraft, a mix of 777s and 787s and that's going to enable us to deepen existing markets and access new markets."

Luxon said the airline had got off to a very good start in the current financial year.

Discover more

Airlines

Anger at Air NZ foreign pilot push

25 Jul 08:00 PM
Business

Air NZ supplies Team NZ's Cup rivals

07 Aug 05:30 PM
Airlines

Airport flags flying start to year

21 Aug 05:30 PM
Airlines

Air NZ to axe 180 jobs

22 Aug 10:10 PM

"It's still early days but we're very encouraged by the first month of this year and importantly as we look forward in our bookings they remain very, very strong. We are very focussed on ensuring we do better in this coming year than we have in the past year," said Luxon who took over as chief executive in January.

The $182 million net profit after tax for the full year to June 30 was 156 per cent from the year before.

The airline - which is about 74 per cent owned by the government on behalf of the taxpayer - is paying a final dividend of 5 cents a share, taking its total dividend for the year to 8 cents a share - a 45 per cent jump from last year's payout.

Matthew Goodson, managing director at Salt Funds Management, said the result was a good one and the market had reacted.

"I suspect it would be somewhat higher again if there were not a general expectation that there will be a lot of stock on the market in the not-too-distant future," Goodson said.

"Whether it paves the way for the government to sell down its holding to just over 50 per cent - which would be a far easier prospect than the sell down of Meridian - will be interesting," he said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Government intends to partially privatise state owned power generator Meridian in November.

Air New Zealand says it will spend around $1.8 billion on new planes over the next three years including six new Boeing 787-9 'Dreamliners' and two new Boeing 777-300ERs. It is also buying nine shorter- range Airbus A320s.

Air New Zealand has said the first of its 787s will replace replace older aircraft flying to Asia, Western Australia and holiday destinations in the Pacific.

Boeing is about to test fly the first of the 787-9s which will join Air New Zealand's fleet around the middle of next year.

The 787-9 can carry between 250 and 290 passengers but Luxon said the airline was not yet ready to announce final configuration of the cabin.

Key points:

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Earnings before taxation of $256 million, an increase of 172 per cent

Net profit after taxation of $182 million, an increase of 156 per cent

Operating revenue $4.6 billion, up three per cent

Operating cash flow of $750 million, a record for the Group

Gearing improved seven percentage points to 39.1 per cent, a record low

Fully imputed final dividend of 5.0 cents per share, taking total dividend to 8.0 cents per share

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Airlines

Premium
Business|companies

Emirates Group announces record $10.5b gross profit

08 May 09:57 PM
Airlines

Wellington Airport boosts income but faces festering fleet problems

08 May 05:02 AM
Business|companies

Greg Foran says NZ too slow out of the blocks with tourism

07 May 09:31 PM

One tiny baby’s fight to survive

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Airlines

Premium
Emirates Group announces record $10.5b gross profit

Emirates Group announces record $10.5b gross profit

08 May 09:57 PM

Group invested billions in new aircraft, infrastructure and technology.

Wellington Airport boosts income but faces festering fleet problems

Wellington Airport boosts income but faces festering fleet problems

08 May 05:02 AM
Greg Foran says NZ too slow out of the blocks with tourism

Greg Foran says NZ too slow out of the blocks with tourism

07 May 09:31 PM
Premium
Airfares: Commerce Commission explains why it doesn’t want a competition study, but tells airlines to watch out

Airfares: Commerce Commission explains why it doesn’t want a competition study, but tells airlines to watch out

07 May 06:02 AM
Connected workers are safer workers 
sponsored

Connected workers are safer workers 

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP