Azul Brazilian Airlines announced on Monday that its losses narrowed significantly in the first quarter to 324.2 million reais ($62.86 million) as air travel demand in Brazil showed signs of recovery.
The airline, which has been grappling with high leasing and interest costs, also faced challenges due to the depreciation of Brazil’s currency, the real, against the dollar. In the first quarter alone, Azul reported a loss of 847.3 million reais due to foreign exchange swings.
Despite these financial challenges, Azul’s overall loss reduced from 727.6 million reais in the first quarter of 2023. The company highlighted that both its revenue and core earnings achieved all-time highs for a first quarter. Traffic, as measured by revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), increased by 1.7% compared to the previous year.
Azul had previously revised its estimate for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) upwards for the year due to rising demand in Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America.
John Rodgerson, Azul’s Chief Executive, expressed optimism about the company’s progress in aircraft utilization. He emphasized that Azul is fully focused on increasing profitability and expects significant EBITDA, free cash flow, and margin expansion in the second half of 2024 and beyond.
Azul’s EBITDA for the first quarter stood at 1.42 billion reais, marking a notable 37.4% year-on-year increase. Net revenue also saw growth, rising by 4.5% to 4.68 billion reais. However, this figure was slightly below the 4.88 billion reais expected by analysts polled by LSEG.
Azul Brazilian Airlines has faced significant financial headwinds, primarily driven by high leasing and interest costs. The depreciation of Brazil’s currency against the dollar further exacerbated the airline’s financial losses. The airline reported a substantial loss due to foreign exchange swings, reflecting the challenges posed by currency volatility.
Despite the financial challenges, Azul highlighted several positive indicators in its first-quarter report. The airline achieved record-high revenue and core earnings for the first quarter, driven by a 1.7% increase in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) compared to the previous year. This growth in traffic signals a recovery in air travel demand within Brazil.
John Rodgerson underscored Azul’s strategic focus on increasing aircraft utilization and profitability. The airline remains optimistic about its financial prospects, expecting significant EBITDA, free cash flow, and margin expansion in the coming years. Azul aims to capitalize on the recovery in air travel demand and leverage its operational efficiencies to drive profitability.
Analysts had anticipated higher net revenues for Azul, with the actual figure slightly missing expectations. The market response to Azul’s financial results will depend on the airline’s ability to sustain its positive operational momentum and deliver on its strategic objectives.
In conclusion, Azul Brazilian Airlines has reported narrowed losses in the first quarter of the year, supported by an increase in air travel demand in Brazil. Despite facing challenges such as high leasing costs and currency depreciation, Azul achieved record-high revenue and core earnings for the first quarter. The airline remains optimistic about its future prospects, focusing on increasing profitability and capitalizing on the recovery in air travel demand. As Azul continues to navigate the evolving market conditions, stakeholders will be closely monitoring its ability to sustain operational improvements and achieve long-term financial stability.
