Aer Lingus has confirmed that its operating profit, before exceptional items, for 2014 would be ahead of the 2013 operating figure of €61.1m.
In a fourth quarter trading statement, Aer Lingus said it has recently increased its fuel hedging activity to bring it in line with that of peers and to take advantage of favourable jet fuel price trends.
Aer Lingus had hedged 50% of this year's fuel requirement at an average price of $937 per metric tonne in September.
Since then, it has hedged an additional 40% of this year's requirement at an average price of $701 per metric tonne.
As a result, the airline said it has now hedged 90% of its estimated fuel needs for 2015 at an average price of $830 per tonne.
This compares to an average hedged fuel price of $954 per tonne last year.
Aer Lingus said the lower fuel costs as well as the staff cost "stabilisation" secured through the pension solution, and further efficiency measures, will contribute positively to its results next year.
However, it also warned that the impact of the expected strength of the US dollar compared to the euro will partly offset some of the positive effects.
It also said it has hedged 24$ of its expected fuel requirements for 2016. "Management will consider the merits of extended hedging of 2016 fuel demand in the course of the first quarter of 2015," the airline added.
Meanwhile, Aer Lingus said yesterday that its outgoing CEO Christoph Mueller will now leave his role at the end of February - and not in May as previously announced.
The airline said its chairman Colm Barrington would take executive responsibility for strategic matters with immediate effect.
Mr Mueller is due to take up the role of CEO at Malaysia Airlines, which was renationalised last year after losing two aircraft in separate incidents.
