Singapore Airlines expects 2023 airfares to decline as rivals add capacity

Singapore Airlines Ltd (SIA) expects passenger yields, a proxy for airfares, could decline in 2023 as rival airlines bring back planes idled during the pandemic and add capacity, a senior executive said on Monday (Nov 7).

"We would not expect yields to stay at the same elevated levels we were at in 2022," SIA Executive Vice President Commercial Lee Lik Hsin told analysts and media of the outlook on an earnings call.

The airline on Friday swung to a second-quarter profit and declared its first dividend in three years as international borders reopened and travel demand rebounded strongly in the three months ended on Sept 30.

SIA's passenger yields across its group airlines were 32 per cent higher during the quarter than during the same quarter in 2019 before the pandemic decimated air travel, according to Reuters calculations based on the respective financial results.

The airline reported record revenue in the second quarter despite flying only 68 per cent as much passenger capacity as it did in 2019 amid strong pent-up demand for travel during the peak summer season.

Lee said bookings remained strong through the Lunar New Year holiday in January 2023, but it was a little early to determine demand beyond that period apart from some promotional sales that were performing well.

SIA said on Friday that higher fuel prices, inflationary pressures across the supply chain, geopolitical issues and the risk of a global recession remained a concern beyond the Lunar New Year period.

The airline's shares were trading 1.5 per cent higher at 0315 GMT (11.15am SGT) on Monday, having risen by as much as three per cent in early trading to the highest level since June. The second-quarter earnings were released after the market had closed on Friday.

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