AirAsia grows load factor

KUALA LUMPUR  Low-cost airline group, AirAsia, improved its load factor by 3% during the third quarter of the year according to its preliminary operation statistics.
Passengers carried increased double-digit by 20% year-on-year to 12.88 million ahead of the 15% increase in capacity.
At the end of the quarter under review, the group’s fleet size stood at 168 A320 aircraft.
Malaysia AirAsia (MAA) achieved a marked improvement in load factor of 82% in 3Q15, up 5 ppts YoY. Passengers carried during the reported period saw a 19% increase YoY to 6.30 million, ahead of the capacity addition of 11%.
The double-digit increase in passengers carried was attributed to the recovery of demand from China and the heightened demand for travel during the month-long Hari Raya or Eid celebration. During the quarter, one aircraft from MAA was renovated to Asia Aviation Capital Ltd (AAC) and subsequently leased to Pakistan International Airlines and one additional aircraft was transferred from Indonesia AirAsia (IAA) to MAA. The airline ended the quarter with 81 aircraft. In 3Q15, MAA started operating seven new routes: Kuala Lumpur – Chongqing, Dhaka, Goa, Kaohsiung, Manila and Pattaya; and Johor Bahru – Bangkok. AirAsia is the sole operator on five of the routes. Frequencies were added on four routes: Kuala Lumpur – Banda Aceh, Johor Bahru, Phuket and Chongqing.
inside no 6Thai AirAsia (TAA) continued to record a strong load factor of 81% in 3Q15, marginally down by 1 ppt YoY. Passengers carried also saw a double-digit increase of 26% YoY at 3.58 million, matching the 27% increase in capacity resulting from the improvement in the political situation in Thailand, which led to a more favourable performance in the tourism sector.
During the quarter under review, TAA accepted one additional aircraft and comparing YoY, TAA has added four aircraft allowing it to end the quarter with 44 aircraft. TAA started three new routes this quarter: Bangkok – Bengaluru; and Pattaya – Nanchang and Nanning. During the quarter, TAA also launched its fifth hub at U-tapao International Airport in Pattaya.
Indonesia AirAsia (IAA) recorded a load factor of 75% in 3Q15. Passengers carried stood at 1.68 million on the back of 4% decrease in capacity as IAA continued with its rationalisation plan, which included a reduction of capacity and redeployment of aircraft to other short-haul associates.
In 3Q15, one aircraft was deregistered from IAA and transferred to MAA as part of a capacity management exercise. At the end of the reported quarter, IAA has 23 aircraft, which includes three aircraft on wet lease to Indonesia AirAsia X (IAAX). During the quarter, IAA launched one new route: Surabaya – Bangkok. Meanwhile, frequencies on three routes were added: Surabaya – Johor Bahru & Kuala Lumpur; and Bandung – Singapore.
Philippines’ AirAsia (PAA) reported significant improvements in load factor at 84% in 3Q15, up 19 ppts YoY. Passengers carried reached 0.90 million, an increase of 46% YoY, well ahead of the 14% increase in capacity. Fleet size at the end of September remained at 15 aircraft. PAA increased frequency on two routes: Manila – Puerto Princessa and Cebu.
AirAsia India (AAI) achieved a load factor of 76% in 3Q15, up 1 ppt YoY with 0.42 million passengers, an increase of 225% YoY. Capacity grew by 221% YoY in line with passengers carried. AAI’s fleet at the end of the quarter under review stood at five aircraft, YoY increase of three aircraft. Frequency was added on one existing route: Bengaluru – Visakhapatnam. AAI’s operating statistics are disclosed and included in the Group’s numbers since 3Q14.inside no 6.1 inside no 6.2 inside no 6.3 inside no 6.4 inside no 6.5 inside no 6.6

sourced:ttrweekly.com