Etihad holds roadshows

MANILA, Philippines - Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, this week is hosting 450 representatives from global leasing, financial markets and banking communities at financial roadshows in New York and London.

President and chief executive officer of Etihad Airways James Hogan said the airline had been undertaking the annual financial roadshows since 2008 to brief major financial institutions on its strategy and performance.

“We are developing enduring relationships in a competitive environment so that we can continue to build a resilient and diversified access to the financial markets.

“As part of our briefings we are speaking to institutions from many markets offering diverse products and solutions, so that we know what’s on offer and so that we can explain our business and finance strategy in this phase of Etihad Airways’ rapid and sustained growth.

“It is important that financial institutions around the world understand our story and are comfortable investing in Etihad Airways. This is how we take them on the journey,” Mr Hogan said.

Etihad Airways chief financial officer James Rigney also expanded on the airline’s future financial strategy.

Ricky Thirion, Etihad Airways vice president and group treasurer, discussed the financial risk management strategies the airline has in place.

Etihad Airways recorded a leap in net profit of 200 per cent to $42 million in 2012 and a rise of 16 per cent in EBITDAR (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and rentals) to $753 million.

Etihad Airways has attracted support from more than 60 institutions globally, which now provide more than $7.1 billion in cumulative funding for the airline’s ongoing expansion.

The airline works with banks from across the globe representing every major market in Asia, the Gulf states, Europe and North America.

“Our bankers understand and trust what we are doing and share the vision we have to be the best airline in the world,” Mr Hogan said.

Etihad Airways has been successful in building the first ‘equity alliance’, with investments in Air Seychelles (40 per cent), airberlin (29.21 percent), Virgin Australia (9 percent) and Aer Lingus (2.987 percent).

This strategy continues to build momentum in Etihad Airways’ business model, which is outside the thinking of traditional legacy alliances. In 2012, for example, partner airlines contributed approximately 20 per cent of passenger revenue.

Fuel, however, continues to be the most significant cost for the airline, accounting for around 40 per cent of total operating costs, before fuel hedging gains. Actively hedging 80 per cent of fuel costs with 22 financial institutions minimized the impact of the increase in global oil prices during 2012.

Etihad Airways currently has 76 per cent of its fuel costs hedged for 2013, 44 per cent for 2014, and 19 per cent for 2015.

Hogan said Etihad Airways was committed to a diversified finance strategy, which included traditional and emerging finance mechanisms across financial institutions in different regions.

“We are very careful to balance our risk and not be reliant on any one institution, market or funding type.”

Etihad Airways uses a variety of funding forms, including commercial debt, Islamic structures, operating leases, tax leases, and European and US export credit agency supported financing.

The funding is used to grow the fleet of new, fuel-efficient aircraft. In 2008, Etihad Airways placed an order for 205 aircraft, 100 firm and 105 options, in order to secure capacity for the next decade of growth.

The airline will take delivery of 14 aircraft in 2013: six passenger wide-body (B777-300ER), three freighter wide-body (B777F, A330), and five narrow-body (A319/A320/A321) aircraft.

In September 2012, the airline issued a request for proposal (RFP) to finance nine wide-body aircraft for delivery in 2013 worth US$1.5billion. Fifty-five bids were received in response to the request and all of the aircraft have been mandated for financing with four lessors and lenders.

An RFP will be issued soon to finance four A320s and one A321 aircraft for delivery between August 2013 and January 2014.