AirAsia PH unit reports 76% load factor in Q1

MANILA, Philippines – The entry of Malaysia’s budget airline giant AirAsia into the Philippine market in March 2012 is gaining momentum, the parent company stated in its first quarter 2013 results. 

AirAsia’s Philippine unit, which is operating with 2 aircraft, carried 144,000 passengers during the first quarter of 2013, translating to a 76% load factor, or the percentage of sold seats per flight.

When it began operations in 2012, it only flew 2,681 passengers out of available 5,760 seats. In the first quarter of 2013, its total seats increased to 189,000.

The Philippine unit operates flights between its hub in Clark and other domestic points, like Davao, Puerto Princesa and Kalibo. International destinations include Hong Kong, Macau and Kuala Lumpur. Some of its feeder traffic come from the passengers flown in by its parent and sister AirAsia airlines into Clark  

In March 2013, the Philippine carrier entered into a strategic alliance with low-cost carrier Zest Air through a share swap deal with the group of former ambassador and juice drink magnate Alfredo Yao. This deal would allow AirAsia to fly out of Manila and grow market share there and give Zest Air the support it needs to expansion. 

During the first quarter 2013, the total number of passengers carried by AirAsia Berhad across its regional markets in Japan, Thailand and Indonesia increased by 19% to approximately 9.8 million in line with 21% increase in capacity.

In 2012, the airline acquired 22 additional aircraft bringing its total fleet at the end of March 2013 to 122 aircraft.

In December 2012, AirAsia confirmed its order of another 100 new Airbus A320 aircraft for delivery until 2021. For the 2013 deliveries, the Malaysia unit was allocated 10 aircraft, Thailand 8, Indonesia 9, Philippines 3, and Japan 4. – Rappler.com