KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Group Bhd (AirAsia) posted the highest quarterly load factor at 80 per cent with a 3.4 million capacity in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2021.
The low-cost carrier carried 2.7 million passengers, representing 103 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth and surpassing a 70 per cent increase in capacity.
AirAsia's available seat kilometres (ASK) grew by 72 per cent YoY, primarily attributed to strong demand from the introduction of quarantine free travel bubbles for Malaysia and the easing of travel restrictions in Q4 last year.
The carrier's load factor for the consolidated air operating certificates (AOCs) comprised Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines remained healthy at 74 per cent with strategies implemented to manage the multiple disruptive lockdowns imposed by respective governments.
AirAsia improved monthly performance of passengers carried, and additional capacity indicates a V-shaped resumption trend in air travel demand throughout 2021.
The airline expected to see a surge in demand following the recent announcements from the Thai government to resume its quarantine-free travel scheme from February 1, 2022, and the Malaysia government resumed the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) between Malaysia and Singapore, effective January 24, 2022.
For AirAsia Malaysia, the airline passengers and capacity increased by 164 per cent and 139 per cent, respectively.
This is backed by rising demand after the reopening of state borders announced by the government.
Load factor increased by 7.0 percentage points (ppts) YoY and 19 ppts quarter-on-quarter to 80 per cent in conjunction with the festive year-end season and increased frequencies on high demand routes.
This included Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, followed by the Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu route in November and December 2021.
AirAsia said the uptrend in demand for interstate travel would likely continue after the government allows fully vaccinated residents to cross state lines.
AirAsia Indonesia posted a commendable load factor of 87 per cent in December 2021, growing by 22ppts YoY.
This was driven by an increased frequency of flights 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 Q4 of 2021, with seats sold doubling from the third quarter of 2021.
Meanwhile, its capacity increased by 126 per cent in Q4 of 2021, with the load factor reaching its highest quarterly performance outcome at 85 per cent, jumping by 21 ppts YoY.
This was achieved from strong pent-up demand in a number of core destinations, including Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Boracay, and Tacloban.
ASK soared 114 per cent YoY to 285 million from 133 million during the period.
AirAsia Thailand operated more domestic capacity than in the previous quarter, on the back of robust demand.
AirAsia Thailand carried 1.15 million passengers with a load factor that rose to 78 per cent in December 2021.
AirAsia Thailand has reallocated its capacity and flights to align with the gradual improvement in demand.
This has increased by 76 per cent of the load factor in Q4 of 2021, despite the spread of the Omicron variant that began in late December.
Domestic travel demand rebounded in March 2021 after the government rolled out the first vaccination drive in Thailand last year.
However, Thailand infection cases rose in July 2021 and compliance with the state containment effort, AirAsia Thailand announced a temporary suspension of domestic operations between July 12, 2021, and September 2, 2021.
The total number of passengers carried was 2.93 million, declining by 69 per cent YoY, in line with the deduction of ASK and capacity.
The airline's load factor was at 68 per cent, with a total fleet of 60 aircraft in the year ended December 31, 2021.