New Skies Satellites Holdings Ltd. reported record revenue of $240.5 million in 2005, up 14 percent from revenue of $210.7 million in 2004, New Skies announced March 1. The satellite operator cut its loss from $6.3 million in 2004 to $1.4 million in 2005.

New Skies attributed the revenue gain to an increase in transponder use from 55 percent of fleet capacity at the end of 2004 to 64 percent at the end of 2005. Revenue growth also was driven by video and enterprise requirements in Central and South Asia, the Middle East and Africa; by restoration services provided to Intelsat following the failure of one of its satellites and by continued growth in government services.

New Skies expects its acquisition by SES Global to close in the second quarter. The deal will create the world’s second largest Fixes Satellite Services operator behind a combined Intelsat–Panamsat.