Hawaiian Airlines has raised its forecasted operating revenue per available seat mile (RASM) for the third quarter of the year due to better-than-expected yields in long-haul markets, especially international travel, the company says on 7 October.
In addition, its economic fuel cost per gallon is expected to be lower than originally forecast. Cost per available seat mile (CASM) and fuel consumption estimates are narrower than earlier guidance.
Hawaiian now says that RASM will be between a 0.5% decline and 0.5% increase against the earlier expectation of a 1.5-4.5 % decline, which the company reported at its second quarter earnings report on 31 July. CASM excluding fuel and non-recurring items will be between 4.5-5.5% increase versus the earlier guidance of 3.5-6.5% increase.
Economic fuel cost per gallon are now forecast at $2.04 in the third quarter, down from an earlier estimate of $2.11. The airline says it expects jet fuel consumption to fall between 3-4%, which is on the higher side of the earlier forecast range of 2.5-4.5% decrease.
Hawaiian carried more than 931,000 passengers in September, bringing its third-quarter passenger number to “more than 3 million”. Load factor in September rose to 85.5% and to 87.8 percent in the third quarter, respectively.
Hawaiian is expected to report its full third quarter results later this month.
