European budget airline Wizz Air has warned of further losses in its current financial year, amid a slower-than-expected recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ultra-low cost carrier faces another "transition year" as travel curbs linger on, chief executive Jozsef Varadi said today, as the company posted a €576m net loss for the 12 months ended March 31.
"Unless we see an accelerated and permanent lifting of restrictions we expect a reported net loss in full-year 2022," Varadi said.
Despite the uncertainty, Wizz and low-cost peers such as Ryanair have used the crisis to add new routes as some of their traditional airline rivals retrench.
The Hungarian carrier now has 43 aircraft bases operating or announced, compared with 25 before the pandemic.
It has also leveraged a strong cash position to continue acquiring new, more efficient jets that will sharpen its competitive edge in an eventual rebound. Its fleet increased by 16 aircraft to 137 at year end.
Wizz said it expects to fly around 30% of its pre-crisis capacity in its current first quarter, returning to full schedules only in its 2022-23 financial year.
The underlying full-year loss, excluding fuel hedging deficits, amounted to €482m, Wizz said, on a 73% revenue decline to €739m.
Liquidity stood at €1.617 billion as of March 31, with the company burning cash at a rate of €84m during the entire last quarter.
The cash and earnings numbers were in line with unaudited results published in an April 15 trading statement.
