European Transport Independent Audit Report Analysis - European Airlines

Research evidence excerpt

European Transport Independent Audit Report Analysis - European Airlines

, which all run persistently through the period.

For investors this mix of KAMs points to risk in both earnings quality and balance

accuracy optionality i.e. loyalty breakage assumptions can alter the timing of revenue

and pension assumptions can move equity and leverage.

Jet2

The key audit matters highlighted for Jet2 see recurring risks around revenue recognition

and aircraft depreciation/useful-life assumptions, both of which have been present since

2020. The lack of variability in audit risks suggests a greater degree of operationally

stability vs. other airlines. For investors, the commercial implications of these audit risks

are centred on earnings quality.

We also flag that earlier audit risks that were related industry-wide problems (going

concern, aircraft impairment, and hotel supplier advances) were explicitly no longer

considered among the most significant risks by 2022, which supports the view that Jet2,

at least from an accounting perspective, was seeing more muted risk vs. peers.

Lufthansa

Looking at the Lufthansa KAMs we see three themes dominate 2022–2025: traffic

revenue recognition (including unused tickets and loyalty liabilities), valuation/

recoverability of owned and leased aircraft, and recoverability of deferred tax assets. This

combination suggests these areas are the main levers by which management could,

through use of judgement, materially impact enterprise value i.e. through the quality

and timing of revenue release, the carrying value of the aircraft asset base, and the

extent to which future profits are already being recognised today through tax assets.

Ryanair

Focussing in on the key audit matters for Ryanair, we note a comparatively narrow set of