AirAsia Reports Q3 2014 Operating Statistics

AirAsia Berhad has released its operating statistics for Q3 2014. In Q3 2014, the group recorded a higher load factor of 78%, up 2 percentage points from the same period last year.

The number of passengers carried increased 1% to 10.7 million, whilst capacity dropped 1% year-on-year. During the quarter under review, a net 4 additional aircraft were added into the system (34 additional aircraft y-o-y), bringing the total fleet size of the group to 171 at the end of Q3 2014.

This is the first time that AirAsia India is has been included in the group’s statistics.

Malaysia AirAsia maintained its load factor of 77% in Q3 2014, no change as compared to the same period last year. The number of passengers carried increased by 0.5% y-o-y to 5.3 million, in line with the increase in capacity y-o-y. As the third quarter is seasonally a weak quarter for Malaysia due to the month of Ramadan falling in July, the management allocated only 1 aircraft for Malaysia AirAsia this quarter. This brings Malaysia AirAsia’s total fleet to 81 aircraft, an additional of 15 aircraft year-on-year. Malaysia AirAsia introduced five new international routes in Q3 2014: Johor Bahru – Saigon, Lombok and Yogyakarta; Kuala Lumpur – Da Nang and Cebu. Frequencies were also increased on fourteen routes: Krabi – Kuala Lumpur; Kuala Lumpur – Saigon, Sibu, Penang and Singapore; Johor Bahru – Sibu and Penang; Kuching – Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Sibu and Miri; Kota Kinabalu – Kuala Lumpur; Langkawi – Penang and Kuala Lumpur.

Thai AirAsia again recorded a high load factor of 82% this quarter, albeit down by 1 percentage point mainly due to the political situation and sluggish economic growth. To stimulate the tourism sector, the Thai Government introduced a 3-month visa fee waiver for Chinese and Taiwanese tourists and declared an extra holiday in the month of August. This helped to push Thai AirAsia’s number of passengers carried up by 12% y-o-y to 2.9 million, in line with the 13% increase in capacity y-o-y. Thai AirAsia took in 3 aircraft in Q3 2014, bringing its total fleet size at the end of September to 40, up 9 aircraft y-o-y. Frequencies were increased in two routes: Chiang Mai – Phuket; Bangkok – Khon Kaen.

Indonesia AirAsia recorded a 4 percentage points y-o-y increase in load factor to 79%. Number of passengers carried during the quarter was 1.8 million, down 10% y-o-y, together with 15% decrease in capacity as the management continued with its route rationalisation exercise during this challenging time where the country was hit by a depreciating Rupiah and caused increase in operating cost. No additional aircraft was added into Indonesia AirAsia in Q3 2014, hence its total fleet still stands at 30 aircraft, up 4 aircraft y-o-y. Frequencies were increased in 2 routes: Bandung – Singapore and Pekanbaru.

Philippines AirAsia reported a load factor of 65%, a big increase of 6 percentage points from 59% recorded during the same period last year. The number of passengers carried was reported at 0.62 million, down 15% y-o-y together with a 23% drop in capacity in Q3 2014. This quarter, Philippines AirAsia sold one of its older aircraft that came together with the acquisition exercise in 2013, which brings Philippines AirAsia’s total net fleet to 18 aircraft (up 4 aircraft y-o-y). No new routes or frequency increased in Philippines AirAsia’s network this quarter as management focused on turning around the current operating routes.

AirAsia India’s operating statistics are disclosed and included in the group’s numbers for the first time this quarter. In its first full quarter of operations, AirAsia India carried a total of 0.13 million passengers with a good load factor of 75%. It received an additional aircraft in Q3 2014, which brings its total fleet to 2 aircraft. From its hub in Bengaluru, AirAsia India launched 3 new routes: Bengaluru – Kochi, Jaipur and Chandigarh. Frequencies were increased in 2 routes: Bengaluru – Kochi and Goa.