Alitalia today (August 2) reported a net loss of €164m for the first half of 2010, nearly halving the €324m deficit for the same period last year.
The airline, which was saved from bankruptcy last year by a consortium of Italian buyers, said its operating loss had also dropped from €273m in 2009 to €129m this year to date.
The airline reported a 13% growth in revenue from €1,309m last year to €1,480m in 2010, a 9.3% increase in its load factor to 68% and a rise in passenger numbers of 3% to 10.6m.
It said the revenue for Q2 of €831m was substantially higher than the Q1 revenue of €649m.
Alitalia said the having of its losses was despite an increase in fuel costs, a rise in staff costs and flight disruption caused by the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland.
But the airline said it was still €783m in debt with its cash standing at €491m.
www.alitalia.com