Asia Aviation expects Thai AirAsia fleet expansion
Asia Aviation, the listed owner of low-cost carrier Thai AirAsia, is confident of achieving its performance goal for the year of increasing the number of passengers carried to 10 million.
Thai AirAsia carried 8.3 passengers last year.
The company has also been boosted by the airline’s first-quarter financial results. Net profit grew 55 per cent year on year to Bt739 million on the back of sales of Bt6.02 billion.
The number of passengers carried during the quarter increased more than 20 per cent year on year, to about 2.6 million. In March alone, the number stood at 920,000 – a record high for the airline – and the cabin factor was 87 per cent.
According to the Tourism Department, more than 850,000 Chinese tourists entered Thailand
via air transport during the first three months, an increase of 97 per cent compared to the same period last year.
Of the total, 50 per cent flew with AirAsia, representing a year-on-year 140-per-cent rise for the carrier in this segment.
Tossapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia, yesterday said its growth was in line with the rising number of seats.
In the first quarter, the airline received a new Airbus A320, increasing its fleet to 28 and helping strengthen its network both internationally and domestically.
Moreover, relocation to Don Mueang International Airport from Suvarnabhumi Airport led to more effective cost management, especially on-time performance, which averaged 90 per cent, he added.
Over the course of the year, ThaiAsia will see the arrival of eight new aircraft in total, up from the seven that were previously planned.
The resulting increase in seat capacity provided by the 35-strong fleet will help drive sales performance, Tossapon said.
