KUALA LUMPUR: Long-haul operator, AirAsia X Bhd has carried 1,568,578 passengers in the second-quarter (Q2) of 2018, recording 13 per cent increased Year-on-Year (YoY).
In a statement released today, the low-cost carrier said the number of passengers carried has surpassed about six per cent of the airline’s available seat kilometres(ask) capacity YoY.
AirAsia X also posted a commendable passenger load factor (PLF) of 81 per cent, higher by one percentage point year-on-year (YoY), despite second quarter historically being the leanest quarter and decline in international air travel from Malaysia during the 14th General Election season.
Beginning April 2018, AirAsia X Malaysia ramped up its frequency to Taipei (from 19 times weekly to 21 times weekly) and to Busan (from 4 times weekly to 6 times weekly), encouraged by strong demand.
AirAsia X said the airline is confident in ramping up PLF in line with the strong demand, despite pressure on yield and load factor in the short term.
During the quarter, AirAsia X Malaysia reduced flight frequencies to Beijing (from 14 times to 7 times weekly) and terminated Tehran.
The airline said the move was focused away from single-route countries, allowing capacity to be redeployed to support additional frequencies in core markets.
As at end of June 2018, AirAsia X Malaysia has a fleet size comprising 22 units of the Airbus A330s.
AirAsia X Thailand similarly reported a healthy PLF of 91 per cent with a total of 483,595 passengers carried, showing an increase of 25 per cent YoY.
During the quarter, AirAsia X Thailand began increasing its flight frequencies to Tokyo (Narita), from 14 times weekly to 21 times weekly and introduced daily flights to Sapporo in April 2018.
AirAsia X Thailand also took delivery of one additional aircraft during the mid of April 2018, bringing total fleet size in Thailand to seven aircraft at the end of June 2018.
Meanwhile, AirAsia X Indonesia posted an improved PLF of 78 per cent and carried a total number of 134,173 passengers in Q2 this year.
On network, AirAsia X Indonesia cancelled their route to Mumbai (via Kuala Lumpur) in April 2018, and had embarked on a dual-hub strategy, now flying to Tokyo (Narita) from both Bali (Denpasar) and Jakarta.
AirAsia X has a fleet size comprising two units of the A330s, bringing the total fleet size of AirAsia X Group to 31 Airbus A330s as at end of June 2018.