Aer Lingus said today underlying operating profit fell 6.6 per cent last year to €76 million with the airline blaming higher fuel costs and security alerts in Britain for the drop.
NCB analysts had expected a figure of €73 million.
The company was also forced to spend €16.2 million defending itself against a hostile takeover bid from Ryanair last October following the airline's privatisation and stock market debut.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion said a publicly quoted company defending itself in a hostile takeover situation was expensive. He said the results supported the view of the board that: "We believe that we can grow shareholder value more going forward on an independent basis."
Total revenue at Aer Lingus rose by 11 per cent to just over €1.1 billion, with passenger numbers rising 7.3 per cent to 8.6 million. However, the load factor or percentage of seats occupied, fell from 81.4 per cent to 77.6 per cent last year.
In a statement, Aer Lingus said revenues from on board sales and hotel and car hire commissions rose by 34 per cent to €63.4 million.
Fuel costs rose by 44.4% or €61.7 million. Mr Mannion said the airline has a 55 per cent hedge on the remainder of the year at $64. He said the airline had plenty of scope to take advantage of further fuel price falls later in the year.
"I think overall we have the right figure hedged."
Changes to the way hedging is accounted for, a profit share scheme for staff, pension provisions following a stock market listing last year and fending off Ryanair's hostile approach resulted in a €69.9 million net loss versus an €88.9 million profit a year earlier.
Aer Lingus said traffic had been solid in the first quarter of 2007 but there had been "some pressure" on ticket prices.
Available seat kilometres (ASK) are expected to grow 14.6 per cent this year.
"We are currently performing well, in line with our expectations," the airline said. "Our outlook for the full year 2007 in operating profit terms is in line with market expectations at the time of the IPO."
Mr Mannion said the recent Labour Court recommendation on its cost-cutting proposals was "positive" and that he expected remaining issues to be dealt with over the next three to four weeks. "We are working together with the Labour Court and the unions to advance all of these matters".
The company said today it would soon order further planes. "We have ... issued a request for proposals to both Airbus and Boeing in respect of our long haul fleet requirements and are currently evaluating the responses with a view to placing an order shortly," Aer Lingus said in its results.
Orders already placed will see the Aer Lingus fleet of Airbus aircraft increase to nine long-haul A330s and to 26 A320s and six A321s on short-haul routes in 2007.
The company said it would continue to cut costs in 2007 and was in the process of negotiations with unions that should result in staff cost savings, via reduced benefits packages, of €20 million in 2006. The group also said it was looking to make savings from fuel, maintenance and handling costs.
Aer Lingus said it was performing well in the new year, in line with expectations, with solid traffic flows and strong sales of ancillary products.
The group said that in addition to cutting costs, its key focus remained on the expansion of its long haul services, particularly transatlantic flights and said it welcomed the EU announcment that a draft Open Skies agreement has been reached with the US.
Siptu's national industrial secretary Mick Halpenny was less optimistic and said the flotation had been a "disaster" and that the flotation price of €2.20 invited a hostile takeover.
Aer Lingus shares were up five cent at €2.95 in Dublin at 9.45am.