ARIANA: SAFER, PROFITABLE BUT STILL FINANCIALLY CONFUSING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 003346 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EEB/TRA, S/SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/RA, SCA/A DEPT PASS FAA FOR RAY SMITH E.O. 12958 N/A TAGS: EAIR PGOV AF SUBJECT: ARIANA: SAFER, PROFITABLE BUT STILL FINANCIALLY CONFUSING REF: (A) 07 Kabul 1090 (B) 09 Kabul 2964 ¶1. Action request for USEU and AmEmbassy London - please see paragraph 4. ¶2. (SBU) Summary: Afghanistan's largest airline, state-owned Ariana Airlines, is a leader in market share and profitability despite an EU flight ban and an aging fleet. Its energetic president, M.K. Wardak, has improved safety, is again interested in a relationship with Boeing, and may soon be allowed to resume direct service to EU countries. Planning for this year's Hajj is underway and Ariana has already used Hajj revenues to purchase new planes. However, the company will have to devote more attention to its inadequate accounting system if it wishes to erase its "Scariana" financial planning reputation. Wardak's weak grasp of the airline's financial situation must improve as well in order to realize his plans for the airline's expansion and privatization. End summary. OPERATIONS - - - - - - ¶3. (SBU) Ariana operates the country's largest commercial fleet, flying to five domestic and 15 international destinations and carrying nearly half of all international passengers to and from Afghanistan. The European Union forbids Ariana-operated flights from entering its airspace due to safety concerns. However, the carrier has leased an Airbus 310-300 from a Turkish company for its Kabul to Frankfurt flight. This European flight is reportedly its most profitable route (although cost data are unavailable). ¶4. (SBU) Ariana President Wardak says he expects EU regulators to remove Ariana from the safety blacklist in November and has applied for a landing slot at London Gatwick. London used to be the airline's most popular destination. (Note: the last Ariana flight to London was the result of a hijacking in 2000 that ended with no casualties. Wardak was the pilot on that flight. End note.) The EU banned Ariana from its airspace in 2006, citing safety concerns. Wardak noted the airline has significantly improved its safety since he became president in 2008 and has spent $3 million to train pilots and cabin crew. Ariana has also compiled procedural manuals for the first time in its history. (Action Request USEU and London: Would appreciate your views on possible EU action on Ariana.) SURPRISINGLY PROFITABLE - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 ¶5. (SBU) Ariana earned a $1.1 million profit on $97.3 million in revenues during the Afghan fiscal year that ended on March 21, 2009, according to USAID's recently completed Land Titling and Economic Restructuring (LTERA) project study. Nearly 20 percent of Ariana's gross revenue came from its Hajj business; this is the second year the Afghan government has awarded Ariana the exclusive carrier for the Hajj. The Ministry of Hajj is Ariana's single largest customer. Although Ariana also transports cargo and provides ground handling services at Kabul International Airport (KIA),passenger flights account for 93 percent of revenue. The LTERA study credits the company's aggressive handling of accounts receivable for its strong balance sheet. Additionally, while Ariana's administrative staff is bloated, salaries and pension costs are relatively low. On balance, the carrier has $45 million in current net assets. THE HAJJ: FEWER PROBLEMS AHEAD? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶6. (SBU) As of October 7, the Saudi government had awarded Ariana 67 of the 150 slots it needs for Hajj flights. The gap is much smaller than at this point last year and, as a result, Wardak says he is confident this year's Hajj will go more smoothly than in years past. While the Afghan Government awarded Ariana this year's Hajj traffic, it also ordered the airline to lease planes from rival commercial carriers, Wardak said. Unable to conclude those agreements, Wardak says he will instead rely on Ariana's four Airbus 310s and lease a fifth from a United Arab Emirates-based airline. (Note: Ariana has used the government pre-payment for this year's Hajj passengers to repay the Ministry of Finance (MOF) for two Airbus 310s the Ministry had bought on the state airline's behalf to replace older, relatively fuel-inefficient Boeing 727s. International Monetary Fund regulations prohibit the Afghan Government from subsidizing Ariana, but Wardak said the MOF purchased the planes and Ariana repaid the Ministry. He did not mention any interest on the loan. End note.) BOEING LEASES? - - - - - - - - ¶7. (SBU) Wardak said the company needs capital to replace aging, KABUL 00003346 002 OF 002 fuel-inefficent aircraft on both domestic and international routes. While preferring to purchase these aircraft outright, he noted Ariana will likely lease most of its future fleet. Wardak added he will also approach Boeing to lease and purchase used aircraft. EconOff pointed out that Boeing may be cautious given Ariana's 2007 default on a lease agreement (ref A) and suggested Ariana prepare audited financial statements to demonstrate its ability to meet obligations. Wardak blamed his predecessor and said Ariana now makes a $10 million profit per year. As a major cost-savings measure, he said he had cut staff from 1700 to 1250. Wardak stressed this effort is ongoing -- the airline should ultimately employ between 400 and 600 people at peak efficiency. Nonetheless, Wardak could not break down his overall profit sources nor give greater visibility to Ariana's revenue stream. OWNERSHIP CLEARER ... OR IS IT? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶8. (SBU) Ariana's articles of incorporation state the Ministry of Transportation and Civil Aviation (MOTCA) owns 38 percent of the company's shares, followed by the Ministry of Finance (38 percent), the Ministry of Commerce (13 percent),and state-owned Pashtany and Milli banks (6 percent each). The MOTCA claims to have transferred its shares to the Ministry of Finance, but the General Assembly of Shareholders never approved this transaction, thus making it void under the company's bylaws. The lack of share documentation is a greater problem; Ariana management admitted ownership generally reflects a "verbal" agreement and LTERA could not locate any share certificates except those held by the two banks. If the Afghan Government decides to privatize Ariana, this lack of formal ownership will present a major obstacle. In addition, LTERA found the Airline's General Assembly of Shareholders, its Board of Directors, and Supervisory Board meet infrequently if at all and do not keep written records of their proceedings. ¶9. (SBU) Wardak said a British buyer recently had offered $150 million for a 49 percent stake in Ariana. Finance Minister Omar Zakhilwal expressed interest in the sale, he said, but the deal fell through when the buyer insisted on setting aside a 2 percent share for an unnamed third party. Wardak said he would prefer to trade shares for planes and training rather than cash, but national sentiment makes privatization difficult. COMMENT: SAME PROBLEMS AS THE COMPETITION, AND THEN SOME - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶10. (SBU) Ariana faces many of the same challenges as its private sector rivals, including access to capital, nervous leasors, and overcapacity on certain routes. Wardak echoed others' complaints about Pamir Airline's below-cost tickets (ref B). He said no airline can last more than three to four years in the Afghan market without state support and suggested KamAir will be the next to fold. Other Afghan airline executives, however, would disagree that state support is inevitable and say GIRoA subsidies are essential to Ariana's own future. A career pilot, Wardak has made impressive progress in Ariana's operations. However, his weak grasp of the airline's financial situation will limit expansion and privatization. End comment. EIKENBERRY