AirAsia grows on expanded network, relocation to Don Mueang

Chief Executive Officer Tassapon Bijleveld, attributed the growth to expansion of the company's business work, which increased the number of passengers.

The airline carried approximately 2 million passengers in the third quarter or a 21.8 per cent increase year-on-year.  For the first 9-month of 2012, load factor was 82 per cent as compared to 81 per cent last year with 6 million passengers carried or up 19.6 per cent year-on-year.  The carrier acquired one additional Airbus A320 in the third quarter, bringing its fleet to 25 aircraft as of the end of the period.

“The continual expansion of the airline’s fleet has allowed it to grow on new routes and to increase more frequencies of major routes, especially for the Chinese market, the world’s most populous and rapidly growing market.  As part of Thai AirAsia’s network expansion plan, the airline, this year, launched 3 new routes in China, namely, Chongqing, Wuhan and Xi’an, all of  which are well-received by travelers,” Tassapon said. 

He added that Thai AirAsia’s moving its hub to Don Mueang Airport since October 1 has allowed the airline to better manage costs and efficiencies as the airport is less congested and has facilities suitable for low-cost airline operators.  He also noted that Don Mueang Airport’s closer to central Bangkok proximity has allowed more convenience especially to domestic passengers.  Such move has marked another milestone on AAV achievements.