Malaysian-based airline AirAsia reported a load factor of 85% in the fourth quarter of last year, or 2% more than for the same period in 2015.
According to the carrier, its total number of carried passengers went up 7% between 2015 and 2016 fourth quarters and was 14.51 million, while the seat capacity increased by 5%.
For the financial year 2016, AirAsia Group carried a total of 56.59 million passengers and had a total load factor of 86%.
The Malaysia AirAsia, which ended the quarter with a fleet of 77 aircraft, in particular had a load factor of 87% in the fourth quarter of last year and its demand was above the 2% YoY increase in capacity. At the same time, the number of carried passengers went up by 5% YoY and was 6.76 million.
AirAsia’s subsidiary AirAsia X also reported an improvement in its overall operating performance for 4Q 2016. AAX also said its passenger load factor decreased by two percentage points from 83% in 2015 to 81% in 2016 and that its available seat per kilometers (ASK) went up 44% YoY to 8,474 million in the fourth quarter of last year.
In a statement, AirAsia X said:
In 4Q16, the company recorded high double-digit increase in passengers carried of 40% YoY to 1.38 million, in-line with capacity growth of 43% YoY. The huge capacity injected during the quarter was to cater demand rising from year-end holiday travel. Operationally, FY16 has been a success turnaround story with various phases of turnaround initiative was carried out positively during the year.
It added:
Moving forward into 2017, AAX remains cautious and anticipate a challenging environment, however, the management remains confident to ensure sustainable growth.
Of other AirAsia Group airlines, Thai AirAsia posted a load factor of 82% in Q4 2016 and an increase in passengers carried (4.37 million) of 8% YoY. On the other hand, Indonesia AirAsia reported that its load factor, which was 83% in Q4 2016, was up 3% YoY. The airline carried a total of 1.55 million passengers in this period and a total of 6.52 million passengers in 2016. Finally, AirAsia India and Philippines AirAsia reported a load factor of 86% and 85% for Q4 2016.