Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd said that it is focussed on preserving cash as it recorded a record annual loss of HK$21.65 billion ($2.79 billion), caused by a travel downturn, restructuring costs and fleet writedowns.
The 2020 loss compares with 2019 profit of HK$1.69 billion and was worse than an average forecast for a net loss of HK$19.9 billion by 13 analysts, according to Refinitiv.
"The pace of the recovery remains uncertain and the group is still very much in survival mode," Cathay chairman Patrick Healy told reporters. "Managing cash prudently remains a priority."
Cathay lacks a domestic market at a time when international borders are largely closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. In December, Cathay's passenger numbers fell by 98.7% compared with a year earlier, though cargo carriage was down by a smaller 32.3%.
Nearly 60% of its 2020 revenue of HK$47.9 billion was from its cargo operations, up from about 20% in 2019.
The airline said in January that it would cut passenger capacity by 60% and cargo capacity by 25% as a result of new rules that required crew to quarantine for two weeks in hotels before returning to normal life in Hong Kong that took effect on February 20.
As a result, Cathay has put most crew on voluntary rosters of three weeks flying, two weeks in a hotel and two weeks off at home.
Cathay said that the quarantine rules will increase cash burn by about HK$300 million to HK$400 million per month, on top of earlier HK$1 billion to HK$1.5 billion levels.
"There is as yet no indication how long these measures remain in place," Healy said.
The airline is encouraging staff to get vaccinated to aid in talks with the Hong Kong government about easing quarantine rules, he said.
Cathay issued HK$6.74 billion of convertible bonds in January to shore up liquidity.
In its financial accounts, Cathay said that it has enough liquidity to last at least 12 months even under extended downside scenarios and Healy said that it will look at raising further funds in the commercial market in coming months.
BOCOM International analyst Luya You said that the prospect of further job cuts is rising, as a slower-than-expected vaccine rollout in key markets dims the outlook for the second half of 2021.
"As in 2020, we expect Cathay to make decisions regarding any further cuts to come in the second quarter once the second-half outlook becomes clearer," she said.
Not In A Position To Rule Anything Out
Healy said that there are no immediate plans for further job cuts but the situation is "so dynamic and uncertain" that he is not in a position to rule anything out.
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