Airways Annual Report 2008

Airways New Zealand – the year that was

Airways New Zealand today released their Annual Report announcing results for the financial year ending 30 June 2008. Airways achieved all of its stated financial and operational targets, including a net profit after tax of $10.6 million; a $6 million dividend to the shareholder; and a $2 million rebate to customers. Airways CEO, Ashley Smout, said the company’s result was solid and reflected an ongoing commitment to innovation, collaboration and the delivery of world class products and services.

“We’ve demonstrated willingness and ability to innovate and adapt to rapid changes in the operating environment. Now, more than ever, we need to work closely with our industry partners to weather the volatile market conditions that are coming our way. A tangible demonstration of this was the ASPIRE 1 flight – a world-first test flight that was possible because of significant collaboration between airlines, airports and international air navigation service providers. We know that our airline partners are hurting, so this Airways NZ-led initiative will have significant long-term benefits, both financially and environmentally, for our airline customers. We’re in a strong position to ensure our business, as well as our industry partners, are able to navigate through this challenging operating environment” said Mr Smout.

Airways Chairman, Mr Con Anastasiou, says that this year was one in which Airways demonstrated its ability to perform to world-class standards of profitability and practice.

“Winning the prestigious International Aviation Transport Association (IATA) award for the second time in five years is testament to the quality of our products, our services and our people. Our philosophy of proactivity and continuing capability development has enabled us to take our innovation and technology to the international market. We are now considered by our peers as being one of the best air navigation services in the world” he said.

Performance Highlights

In 2008, Airways NZ:

  • controlled 1,167,830 aircraft movements
  • achieved total revenue of $139 million
  • returned $6 million to the government in dividends
  • completed a decade without price increases to customers
  • saved airlines operating in NZ airspace approximately $20 million by reducing fuel burn
  • reduced industry emissions by 63,000 tonnes of CO²
  • won the IATA Eagle Award for being the best ANSP in the world
  • won two Computerworld Awards for excellence in use of technology

 

Safety Performance
Airways regularly benchmarks its safety performance against air navigation services (ANS) providers in other countries, a process that has confirmed its place among the world's safest ANS providers.

Operational Performance
Airways delivered on all significant operational milestones outlined in the Statement of Corporate Intent. These objectives included:

  • The completion of an 18-month project to upgrade the Instrument Landing System at Auckland International Airport. This is the first of its kind operating in the Southern Hemisphere and will allow NZ’s main international gateway to remain open during periods of fog.
  • The introduction of Collaborative Arrivals Manager (CAM). CAM enables airlines to manipulate their fleet and network configurations in real time so that any delays are incurred on the ground rather than in the air, thus reducing fuel consumption and harmful emissions. It will save customers up to $750,000 in operating costs annually and help them proactively minimise the impact of delays on passengers.
  • The trailing of Continuous Descent Arrivals at Auckland to reduce fuel burn.
  • Signing up to ASPIRE (Asia and South Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions), a partnership with international aviation partners working to develop initiatives to reduce emissions on key Asia Pacific long-haul routes.

 

Ends
6 October 2008

Notes for editors:

Click here to download the Airways NZ 2008 Annual Report or contact Nikki Waghorn (details below).

For further information:

Nikki Waghorn
Corporate Communications Manager
03 357 2842
021 438 243

 


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