TRANSASIA Airways’ revenue grew 4.62 per cent year-on-year to NT$8.74 billion (US$296 million) for the financial year ended December 31, 2011.
Net profit jumped to NT$664 million, while earnings per share for the year under review finished at NT$1.34, making it the best-performing airline in Taiwan, TranAsia said in a statement.
“30 per cent of our total revenue in 2011 came from cross-straits operations, 28 per cent from international routes, 23 per cent from the domestic market and the other eight per cent from charter business,” said Vincent Lin, chairman of TransAsia Airways.
In line with plans for further network connections and fleet introductions to Asia, TransAsia has purchased nine ATR72-600 aircraft, which will be mainly deployed on domestic routes. This will add to the 20 already purchased and the 18 currently in operation. The new order of ATR72-600s will be delivered from 2014 onwards.
The carrier has also purchased two Airbus A330-300s, with the first to be delivered this November. This adds to an existing order for six A321NEOs (with an option for another six) and six A321-200s. TransAsia is scheduled to take delivery of all Airbus aircraft by 2020.
“We have plans to grow each segment with scheduled flights to Japan launching in the first half of 2012, and later to Bangkok, Malaysia and Indonesia,” said Lin.
“We will also welcome a few new destinations in (mainland China), including Hangzhou, Sanya and other second tier cities with promising opportunities this year.”
TransAsia, which underwent an IPO last November, is planning to issue up to 50 million shares through private placement to international investors.
