AirAsia group records higher load factor in Q2, FY16

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Bhd group's load factor rose 6 percentage points to 85% from a year ago, while its Malaysian operations fared better at 87%.

The low-cost carrier said on Wednesday the group carried 12% more passengers at 13.9 million, which was well ahead of the 4% increase in capacity. 

At end of Q2, the group’s total fleet size was 172 aircraft (174 including two aircraft that was delivered to AirAsia Japan which has not started operations).

As for Malaysia AirAsia (MAA), it recorded seven percentage points increase of 87% in 2Q16.

“Demand exceeded capacity with 10% increase in the number of passengers carried at 6.55 million and 1% on-year increase in capacity,” it said. 

AirAsia said MAA had 81 aircraft at end June 2016. It also introduced a new route which was Johor Bahru–Guangzhou while frequency was added on one route, which was KL–Shenzhen.
 
Thai AirAsia (TAA) recorded load factor of 83% in Q2, 16, up three percentage points. It carried 18% more passengers at 4.17 million, ahead of the 13% increase in capacity. 

During the quarter, TAA took two additional aircraft while on-year, six aircraft were added and this increase its total fleet to 49 aircraft. Seven new routes commenced operations.

Indonesia AirAsia's (IAA) rose 10 percentage points to 83% in Q2, FY16. It recorded a 2% incrase in passengers despite capacity reduction of 11% on-year. Its total fleet at the end of Q2, FY16 was 22 aircraft, which included eight aircraft operated by Indonesia AirAsia X (IAAX). 
 
Philippines AirAsia (PAA) reported load factor of 91% in Q2, FY16, up 11 percentage points. It recorded a 3% increase in the number of passengers at 1.01 million. Thisnwas despite a decrease in capacity by 9% under its capacity rationalisation plan. PAA had 14 aircraft.
 
AirAsia India (AAI) recorded a load factor of 87% in 2Q16, up four percentage points. It recorded a 76% increase in passengers at 530,000.  AAI’s total fleet was six aircraft.