AirAsia Group Records 89 Pct Load Factor In Q1

KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 (Bernama) – AirAsia Group recorded a load factor of 89 per cent for the first quarter of 2017 (Q1 2017), up three percentage points (ppts) from the same period last year. In a statement Monday, AirAsia Bhd said the number of passengers carried increased 13 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) to 15.23 million, well ahead of the nine per cent increase in seat capacity. At the end of the quarter under review, the Group’s total fleet size stood at 176 aircraft, it said. Malaysia AirAsia (MAA) achieved a load factor of 90 per cent in Q1 2017, up five ppts y-o-y. "Demand exceeded the one per cent y-o-y increase in capacity, with the number of passengers carried rising by six per cent y-o-y to 6.85 million,” said AirAsia. It said frequencies were added to several routes: Kuala Lumpur (KL)–Maldives, KL–Penang, Johor Bahru–Penang, Johor Bahru–KL, Kuching–Sibu, Kuching–Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu–KL and Kota Kinabalu–Tawau. MAA ended the quarter with a fleet size of 77 aircraft (excluding two A320 aircraft novated from MAA to Asia Aviation Capital and subsequently leased to a third party airline. It added Thai AirAsia posted a load factor of 89 per cent in Q1 2017, up one ppt y-o-y, Indonesia AirAsia achieved 82 per cent (up three ppts), Philippines AirAsia at 92 per cent (up five ppts) and AirAsia India recorded a load factor of 89 per cent, up three ppts. -- BERNAMA