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Julien Behal/PA Wire

Aer Lingus says it could have done better last year but one thing hurt it

The airline made a profit of €61 million last year, which was in line with expectations.

AER LINGUS MADE an operating profit of €61.1 million last year, according to its results which were published today – but says profits could have been even higher.

CEO Christoph Mueller said the ongoing dispute over the company pension fund made it difficult to reach progress on other key matters in the business.

“While I am broadly satisfied with our financial performance for 2013, I believe that we could have done better,” he said.”In particular, the absence of progress on pension matters inhibited developments on several other key matters for our business”.

There has been a long-running dispute between employees of Aer Lingus and the Dublin Airport Authority and the companies over pension funds. SIPTU members have voted for industrial action to take place in the coming weeks.

Mueller said the company “can no longer defer business improvement initiatives”.

Last year was the first year of significant growth for Aer Lingus since the global economic downturn, Mueller said.

Total revenue for the airline was up 2.3 per cent to €1,425 million – up from €1,393 million the previous year. The operating profit before net exceptional items was €61.1 million, which Aer Lingus said was in line with expectations.

Long haul flights saw an increase in revenue of more than 11 per cent as passenger numbers rose by 12 per cent.

Short haul revenue was down 3.3 per cent, which Aer Lingus said was due to extremely good weather in Ireland and northern Europe in the peak summer period which meant people stayed at home.

The company’s balance sheet was strong at the end of the year with gross cash of €897.4 million and an increase in net cash to €419 million.

Read: Aer Lingus welcomes back Boeing as Shannon to Boston route launches >

Read: SIPTU ballot for strike action at Aer Lingus & DAA under way >

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26 Comments
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    Mute Tony Stanley
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    Nov 8th 2011, 4:23 PM

    At last, I can afford that additional ivory back scratcher!

    22
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    Mute Gearóid Ó Murchadha
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    Nov 8th 2011, 6:40 PM

    Haha, that’s exactly what they increased the interest rate by last month and that was their sixth increase since may 2010!

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    Mute Derek Mc Greevy
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    Nov 8th 2011, 6:33 PM

    wont make much of a difference to my mortage tha.k god 5 more years left bring it on

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    Mute Dermot Browne
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    Nov 8th 2011, 6:17 PM

    Additional?! Posh or what….

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Nov 8th 2011, 7:40 PM

    These people have bumped up repayments a number of times in the last few years. This is just a PR stunt and when no ones watching bang another increase.

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    Mute Lou Brennan
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    Nov 8th 2011, 7:35 PM

    Too little too late.

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    Mute Johnny Zillion
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    Nov 8th 2011, 7:01 PM

    Not good, we need to pay these higher interest rates to keep the EBS solvent

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    Mute paul daly
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    Nov 9th 2011, 2:52 AM

    they’ve only dropped them because they know if they dont the Government will step in. the only reason aib wont drop theirs is because they didnt get a chance to rise it the last time before the regulator stepped in and warned them if they rose the interest rates again hed have a good look at their books. listen this would not have been passed on only for the pressure from the government. its not enough though. more is needed

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Nov 9th 2011, 1:41 PM

    Woooooohooooo!!!

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