AirAsia records load factor of 81 pct for fourth quarter

KUCHING: AirAsia Bhd (AirAsia) has recorded a load factor of 81 per cent for the fourth quarter of 2013 (4Q13) – unchanged from the same period last year.

The total number of passengers carried for the whole group grew significantly by 28 per cent year on year (y-o-y) to 11.8 million, continuing its double digit passenger growth, in line with the increase in capacity which stood at 28 per cent.

Year on year, AirAsia Group took in 39 additional aircraft (including 11 aircraft from the acquisition of Zest Air, now rebranded to AirAsia Zest), which brings its total fleet at the end of 2013 to 154.

Malaysia AirAsia (MAA) posted a record high load factor of 85 per cent in 4Q13, up three percentage points (ppt) as compared to the same period last year, despite competitive pressures.

The total number of aircraft under MAA at the end of 2013 was 72, an additional of eight as compared to the same period last year.

The number of passengers carried during the reported period was up 14 per cent at 5.9 million, in line with the 10 per cent capacity increase.

The increase in passenger traffic was attributed to the introduction and addition of frequencies in a number of routes. MAA introduced the Kota Kinabalu to Kota Bharu route which proved to be a success as AirAsia is the sole operator of the route.

Frequencies were increased on seven routes including Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nanning and Vientianne, Kota Kinabalu to Johor Bahru and Sandakan, and Kuching to Bintulu.

The strong load factor and high passenger growth is mainly due to AirAsia’s continuous strategy to be load active and yield passive.

On the regional front, Thai AirAsia continued to record a solid load factor of 81 per cent during the quarter, a one ppt decrease y-o-y, while Indonesia AirAsia maintained its load factor of 76 per cent y-o-y.

On the other hand, Philippines’ AirAsia recorded a load factor of 64 per cent, unchanged from the same quarter last year.