AirAsia Group Bhd Consolidated AOCs¹ has recorded the highest quarterly load factor and capacity at 80% and 3.4million respectively in 4Q2021 since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It said that Passengers carried increased 103% to 2.7million year-on-year (“YoY”) in 4Q2021 which surpassed the capacity increase of 70%, leading to a 13 percentage points (“ppts”) improvement in load factor to 80%.
It said that Available Seat Kilometres (“ASK”) grew by 72% YoY, primarily attributable to strong demand from the introduction of quarantine-free travel bubbles for Malaysia and the easing of travel restrictions in 4Q2021.
It said that in FY2021, the load factor for the Consolidated AOCs remained healthy at 74% with strategies implemented to manage the multiple disruptive lockdowns imposed by respective governments.
It said that the improved monthly performance of passengers carried and additional capacity across the group indicate a V-shaped resumption trend in air travel demand throughout 2021.
Additionally, the Group is expecting to see a surge in demand following the recent announcements that the Thai government is resuming its quarantine-free travel scheme from 1st February 2022 and the Malaysia government resumed the Vaccinated Travel Lane (“VTL”) between Malaysia and Singapore, effective 24 January 2022.
AirAsia Malaysia passengers carried, and capacity has increased by 164% and 139% respectively as compared to the same quarter in previous year off the back of rising demand after the reopening of state borders announced by the Government of Malaysia.
It said that the Load factor increased by 7ppts YoY and 19ppts QoQ to 80% in conjunction with the year-end festive season and increased frequencies on high demand routes including between Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, followed by the Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu route in November and December 2021.
AirAsia Indonesia posted a commendable load factor of 87% in December 2021, 81% for the quarter which grew 22ppts YoY mainly driven by an increased frequency of flights in line with growing demand, particularly in December 2021. Passengers carried in the last month of the year rose nearly seven-fold compared to November 2021.
AirAsia Philippines continued to outperform in 4Q2021 with seats sold in 4Q2021 doubling from 3Q2021. In YoY comparison, capacity increased by 126%. In 4Q21, the load factor reached its highest quarterly performance outcome in 2021 at 85%, jumping by 21 ppts YoY.
For 4Q2021, AirAsia Thailand operated more domestic capacity than in the previous quarter, on the back of robust demand. AirAsia Thailand carried 1.15million passengers. Load factor rose to 78% in December 2021.
