AFP, Madrid :
The world’s biggest travel reservations company, Spain’s Amadeus, on Friday posted higher profits underpinned by strong showings in North America and Asia.
Amadeus said net profit, adjusted to exclude exceptional acquisition costs, rose 10.4 percent to 751.8 million euros ($800 million).
The showing was just ahead of analysts’ forecasts of 746 million euros, according to financial data firm Factset.
Reservations via travel agencies using Madrid-based Amadeus’ booking system rose 35.6 percent in North America and 1.6 percent in Asia but were stable in the Middle East and Africa for a rise of just 0.3 percent.
Operating income before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization, a measure of profitability, rose 12.2 percent year-on-year to 1.47 billion eiros while revenue rose 14.5 percent to 3.91 billion, the firm said.
“Amadeus enjoyed a highly successful 2015 with strong operational and financial performances,” said CEO Luis Maroto. “We remained highly focused on technology and deployed a consistent strategy of investment in 2015 to support our long-term growth and profitability goals.”
The strong showing came despite a falloff in business for countries such as Tunisia and Egypt, both hit by terrorist attacks last year.
Amadeus said 2015 brought a slew of either new or renewed agreements with carriers including Air Canada and Aeromexico.
The firm added that the number of passengers boarded rose by 7.5 percent to 747.3 million.
Amadeus added the board will in June suggest a final gross dividend of 0.775 euro cents per share from the 2015 reported profit, against a rise of 10.7 percent on 2014.
The company paid an interim gross dividend of 0.34 per share in January.
Shares in Amadeus were up 2.9 percent late morning in Madrid at 37.99 euros.
The world’s biggest travel reservations company, Spain’s Amadeus, on Friday posted higher profits underpinned by strong showings in North America and Asia.
Amadeus said net profit, adjusted to exclude exceptional acquisition costs, rose 10.4 percent to 751.8 million euros ($800 million).
The showing was just ahead of analysts’ forecasts of 746 million euros, according to financial data firm Factset.
Reservations via travel agencies using Madrid-based Amadeus’ booking system rose 35.6 percent in North America and 1.6 percent in Asia but were stable in the Middle East and Africa for a rise of just 0.3 percent.
Operating income before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization, a measure of profitability, rose 12.2 percent year-on-year to 1.47 billion eiros while revenue rose 14.5 percent to 3.91 billion, the firm said.
“Amadeus enjoyed a highly successful 2015 with strong operational and financial performances,” said CEO Luis Maroto. “We remained highly focused on technology and deployed a consistent strategy of investment in 2015 to support our long-term growth and profitability goals.”
The strong showing came despite a falloff in business for countries such as Tunisia and Egypt, both hit by terrorist attacks last year.
Amadeus said 2015 brought a slew of either new or renewed agreements with carriers including Air Canada and Aeromexico.
The firm added that the number of passengers boarded rose by 7.5 percent to 747.3 million.
Amadeus added the board will in June suggest a final gross dividend of 0.775 euro cents per share from the 2015 reported profit, against a rise of 10.7 percent on 2014.
The company paid an interim gross dividend of 0.34 per share in January.
Shares in Amadeus were up 2.9 percent late morning in Madrid at 37.99 euros.
