São Paulo – The Brazilian airline Tam Linhas Aéreas posted a net profit of 128.8 million Brazilian reals (US$ 78,8 million) in the first quarter of 2011. The result reverses losses of 70.9 million reals (US$ 43.4 million), incurred in the same period of last year. The company also recorded increases in revenues, rate of passengers carried, and demand.
In the first three months of this year, revenues reached 3.04 billion reals (US$ 1.8 billion), 16.8% more than in the same period of last year. The increase in revenues was due to the higher number of passengers carried, among other factors. The company transported 9.3 million people from January to March, 11.9% more than in the first three months of 2010.
The company claims that in the first three months of the year, a large number of passengers took leisure trips, especially due to the Carnival holidays. “The first quarter was marked by a large number of passengers taking leisure trips, as a result of Carnival, which took place in March this year, delaying the return of business passengers, and causing the occupancy rate to rise,” informed the company. Occupancy rates on domestic and international flights reached 74%, an increase of 1.9% over the rate recorded in 2010.
Another source of revenue that contributed to the increase this year was TAM’s Multiplus loyalty program. The project generated revenues of 242 million reals (US$ 147 million). In the first quarter of 2010, revenues reached 40.8 million reals (US$ 24.8 million), and in the fourth quarter of 2010, 205.6 million reals (US$ 125.2 million).
The company owns 153 aircraft, mostly made by the European manufacturer Airbus: the fleet comprises 86 A320s, 26 A319s, nine A321s, 18 A330s, five ATR-42s, three Boeing 767s, four Boeing 777s and two A340s. By the end of the year, TAM should own 155 aircraft, with the addition of two more A330s – which are used in long-distance flights.
In August of last year, TAM announced the merging of its operations with the Chilean airline LAN. Protection departments of competing companies are still assessing the impact of the merger on the Brazilian and Chilean air transport markets.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum