Icelandair Group‘s Preliminary Results for Q1 2020

As previously announced, Icelandair Group‘s operations have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated wide-ranging travel bans and decrease in travel demand. Preliminary results of the first quarter of 2020 indicate that revenues decreased by 16% between years to USD 209 million. The financial results of the first two months of the year were in line with expectations with considerable improvements between years but due to adverse COVID-19 impact, March was significantly below expectations. Due to the foreseeable considerable adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on near term operations, goodwill impairment amounted to approximately USD 115 million. Negative development in the value of fuel hedges amounting to approximately USD 51 million had further significant negative impact on the results in the first quarter.  Taking all this into the account, preliminary results of first quarter 2020 indicate that EBIT amounted to negative USD 208 million. The Q1 2020 financial statements will be published on 4 May 2020.

Icelandair’s liquidity position is still above its internal policy of USD 200 million minimum level. Due to negative development of the value of fuel hedges, the Company has transferred USD 18 million to margin accounts with its counterparties. Assuming a continued period of minimum revenue, the Company expects its liquidity to fall below its above-mentioned USD 200 million minimum level in the next few weeks.

The Company is currently focusing on improving its liquidity and equity position as well as securing its long-term profitability. To achieve this, the Company is preparing to issue new shares as previously announced. As a part of that, successful negotiations with relevant unions are essential as well as the approval of a shareholders’ meeting. Discussions are currently ongoing, or being initiated, with other key stakeholders, such as lenders, lessors and suppliers to strengthen the long-term competitiveness of the Company even further. Yesterday, it was announced that the Government is willing to consider granting the Company a credit line or providing a guarantee for such credit line conditioned upon the completion of the share offering. The Company expects that further conditions from the Government regarding the credit line will be required.

Icelandair Group has, as previously announced, taken significant steps to minimize the impact on cash flow in the past few weeks. Furthermore, the Company has reduced the number of employees within the Company significantly, as announced on Tuesday 28 April. These actions are expected to reduce cash outflow by approximately USD 12 million per month in the next three months, taking into account general measures by the Icelandic Government regarding partial payment of salary cost during notice periods.

Further information:

Investors: Íris Hulda Þórisdóttir, Director Investor Relations,

Media: Ásdís Ýr Pétursdóttir, Director Communications,