Asia Aviation announces Q1 operating results
Asia Aviation, the major shareholder in Thai AirAsia, has announced its operational results for the first quarter.
The listed company generated revenue of Bt9.15 billion and a net profit of Bt570 million, achieving a record load factor of 89 per cent, up 1 percentage point, with 4.85 million passengers carried, an 11-per-cent year-on-year increase – yet higher than total seat capacity, which grew 9 per cent.
An Airbus A320 and an Airbus A320 neo were delivered during the quarter, contributing to a fleet that now stands at 53 aircraft.
Tassapon Bijleveld, chief executive officer of both Asia Aviation and Thai AirAsia, said the carrier had continued its plans during the first three months of the year, with an emphasis on strengthening its “interregional connections” within Thailand, which experienced rapid growth.
Thai AirAsia launched two new routes during the quarter, introducing daily flights from its U-tapao hub to Ubon Ratchathani and Phuket.
Both were well received, Tassapon said.
The airline also increased flight frequency in the CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam) market by bringing the Don Mueang-Mandalay (Myanmar) route to twice daily.
“We believe in our plans and our capital management, which have allowed us to achieve satisfactory growth. In the first quarter, Thai AirAsia had total revenues of Bt9.15 billion and a net profit of Bt1.036 billion,” the CEO said.
Moreover, on April 21, the airline became the nation’s first low-fare carrier to receive “AOC Re-Certification” based on ICAO standards following an evaluation by the Thai Civil Aviation Authority, affirming its global standard of services, he added.
For the current quarter, Tassapon said Thai AirAsia was ready to add a new CLMV route and would begin flying Don Mueang-Danang (central Vietnam) daily from June 9.
Besides, it has already increased flight frequency on two routes, bringing Don Mueang-Khon Kaen from four to five flights a day and Don Mueang-Roi Et from two to three flights daily since April 5.
The carrier’s targets for 2017 remain bringing its fleet to 57 aircraft, serving 19.5 million passengers and maintaining an average load factor of 84 per cent.
