Rolls-Royce cash burn increasing as most jets remain idled

Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc expects to burn through more cash this year than it previously forecast, after a surge in coronavirus cases slowed progress toward a recovery in long-distance travel.

The shares fell as much as 8.5% after the U.K. engine maker said cash flow would be negative 4.2 billion pounds ($5.6 billion) this year, as the wide-body planes powered by its jet engines remained mostly dormant. The company earns revenue for maintenance when planes are flying.

That’s 5% higher than the outflow predicted in August, though the company said Friday it still aims to return to positive cash generation sometime in the second half of next year. Flying hours for the company’s turbines were just 33% of year-ago levels in October and November.

While Rolls-Royce has raised 5 billion pounds just to survive as the coronavirus crisis hammers air travel, demand for long-haul flights isn’t expected to fully recover until mid-decade, meaning its cash position is likely to remain a concern for years to come. The company said it’s on track to cut 5,500 jobs through the end of the year.

Commercial air travel is likely to recover slowly in the first half of next year, with more improvement expected toward the end of 2021, Chief Executive Officer Warren East said on a call with reporters.

The shares were trading down 7.2% as of 8:33 a.m. in London.

Efforts to preserve cash should now deliver more than the 1 billion-pound saving targeted for this year, East said.

Rolls-Royce last week announced that it’s moving some activities to its ITP Aero arm, while seeking a buyer. The company will engage with potential acquirers in the first of the year, the CEO said.