Rheinmetall reports “boom” as results hit new records with orders for vehicles, ammunition and weapons
Rheinmetall is riding high as Europe scrambles to boost its defence forces and replenish spent stockpiles sent to Ukraine.
SkyWest, Inc. has released the combined traffic figures for its two airline subsidiaries, SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) during December 2009 and the complete calendar year.
The company reported a 5.4% increase in revenue passenger miles (RPMs) for December, while available seat miles (ASMs) increased 6.5% compared to the same period last year. The combined airlines generated 1,420,360,051 RPMs for the month compared with 1,347,791,781 in December 2008, while ASMs increased to 1,835,037,294.
The load factor was down 0.8 percentage points (pp) to 77.4 percent compared to 78.2 percent for the same period last year. Passenger boardings for December totalled 2,815,678, a 6.9% increase over December 2008’s figure of 2,634,566.
RPMs for the whole of 2009 were up 2.0% to 17,448,958,077 from 17,101,909,734 in 2008, with ASMs going up by 0.6% to 22,142,650,268 from 22,020,250,026 year-on-year.
The annual load factor was 78.8%, a 1.1 pp increase over 2008’s 77.7%. The pair carried 34,544,772 passengers last year compared with 33,461,819 carrioed in 2008, a 3.2% increase.
Rheinmetall is riding high as Europe scrambles to boost its defence forces and replenish spent stockpiles sent to Ukraine.
The forecast came as the Italian firm presented its new 2025–29 industrial plan to analysts, with its future figures bolstered by the European increase in defence spending.
Speaking before a committee on European affairs, the speakers addressed recent developments following an eventful few days. During this period, the UK pushed for increased support for Ukraine, while the EU eased budget constraints to allow for greater defence spending. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, US President Donald Trump introduced tariffs that could impact the defence industry.
NATO and other Western countries had been singing from the same song sheet since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia three years ago but the alliance has been weakened as the new US administration under President Donald Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine.
Since the release of Ireland’s Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF) report two years ago there have been whisperings about the potential of Ireland buying fighter jets, one of the most ambitious recommendations. The prospect has now inched closer.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer raises defence spending, while both NATO and President Trump demand significant further increases.