AirAsia Q3 load factor rises to 87%
AIRASIA recorded a load factor of 87 per cent in the third quarter of this year, a growth of 6 percentage points from the same quarter last year.
In a statement yesterday, the low-cost carrier said the number of passengers carried increased 11 per cent year-on-year to 14.23 million, well ahead of the 2-per-cent increase in seat capacity.
“At the end of the quarter under review, the group’s total fleet size stood at 171 aircraft (173 including two aircraft delivered to AirAsia Japan but yet to commence operations).”
AirAsia said its Malaysian operations achieved a load factor of 89 per cent in the third quarter of 2016, which was a record high and a 7-percentage-point increase year-on-year.
Passenger numbers increased 5 per cent to 6.63 million while capacity was reduced by 3 per cent.
“AirAsia Malaysia ended the quarter with a fleet size of 77 aircraft including two newly delivered Airbus A320neo.”
Thai AirAsia posted a load factor of 84 per cent, up 3 percentage points.
The number of passengers carried increased 21 per cent to 4.33 million, more than the 17-per-cent increase in capacity.
“During the quarter, Thai AirAsia started operating the Hat Yai-Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok-Vientiane routes and increased frequencies on the Bangkok-Udon Thani route.
TAA ended the quarter with 49 aircraft.
Indonesia AirAsia achieved a record load factor of 90 per cent with a 15-percentage-point increase. Passenger numbers were 2 per cent higher at 1.71 million while capacity was reduced by 14 per cent.
The fleet stood at 22 aircraft, including eight aircraft operated by Indonesia AirAsia X.
Philippines AirAsia’s (PAA) load factor stood at 83 per cent, a decrease of 1 percentage point.
The number of passengers carried was 0.98 million, up 8 per cent.
Capacity increased by 9 per cent as frequencies were added on the Manila-Kalibo (Boracay) and Manila-Puerto Princessa routes. PAA ended the quarter with 15 aircraft.
AirAsia India achieved a load factor of 88 per cent. up 12 percentage points.
The number of passengers carried increased 42 per cent to 0.59 million, more than the 23-per-cent increase in capacity.
Three routes were inaugurated during the quarter – Bengaluru-Guwahati, Bengaluru-Hyderabad and Hyderabad-Goa.
Frequencies were added on the Bengaluru-Goa route. AAI’s fleet consisted of eight aircraft at the end of the quarter.
