Air New Zealand reconfirms Profit Forecast

Air New Zealand today issued the following statement to the NZ and Australian stock exchanges:

Air New Zealand reconfirms that its expectations for the full year results are of a profit before unusuals and tax within the range of previous guidance.

At the time of announcing its half-year results in February, the Company reconfirmed its expectation of achieving a full year profit of $230 million.

In response to the effects of SARS, that was revised to "around $200 million" in the company's announcement in late April.

"Recovery of bookings late in the financial year as the effects of SARS receded has increased our confidence that, although we have not yet finalised the financial statements, the final result will be comfortably on the positive side of $200 million," said Mr Ralph Norris, Managing Director and CEO.