SpiceJet first quarter net profit down 10 percent

Budget carrier SpiceJet Monday reported a 10 percent fall in net profit for the first quarter of this fiscal, which stood at Rs.50.55 crore from Rs.62.44 crore in the corresponding quarter of 2012-13.

The company's total income registered a 16.20 percent rise at Rs.1,704.30 crore during the quarter under review, from Rs.1,466.69 crore reported in the like period of last fiscal, said a regulatory filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

The company's net sales grew by 19.56 percent at Rs.1,688.47 crore from an income of operation's of Rs.1,412.16 crore in the corresponding quarter of 2012-13.

"Overall performance should be considered satisfactory and has to be viewed in the context of several adverse circumstances that continue to make the business environment for the airline industry extremely challenging," the airline said in a statement.

"Notwithstanding, the several headwinds in the form of a weak rupee and high cost of fuel, the management has executed with an emphasis on efficiency, elimination of waste and profitability."

The company's fuel cost during the quarter under review grew by 10.47 percent at Rs.739.83 crore from Rs.669.67 crore spent on fuel in the first quarter of last fiscal.

However, the company's fuel costs as a proportion to total revenue fell to 43 percent while it was 46 percent in the like period of financial year, mainly due to better realisations from its overseas routes that now make up almost 11 percent of total revenues.

Airport charges like parking, housing and land (PHL) fees increased substantially by 49.64 percent at Rs.114.57 crore from 76.56 crore paid as charges in 2012-13.

The company further said that its average passenger yields in the quarter under review increased by five percent.

The low-cost carrier had a domestic market share of 19.50 percent in June, 2013 from 18.60 percent in the corresponding month of 2012.

The company's scrip at the BSE grew by 0.78 percent or 0.20 points at Rs.25.95 around 3.00 p.m. from its previous close of Rs.25.75 on Friday.