AirAsia posts higher load factor of 86% in 2016

PETALING JAYA: AirAsia Bhd carried a total of 56.59 million passengers in 2016 with a load factor of 86%, higher than the 80% achieved in 2015.
The total number of passengers carried in 2015 was 50.68 million.
For the fourth quarter of 2016, its load factor was up 2% from the same period a year ago. The number of passengers carried increased 7% to 14.51 million, well ahead of the 5% increase in seat capacity, it said in a statement yesterday.
As at the end of last year, AirAsia’s total fleet size stood at 172 aircraft (174 including two aircraft delivered to AirAsia Japan but yet to commence operations).
For AirAsia (Malaysia), its load factor was up 2% to 87% in Q4’16. Demand exceeded the 2% increase in capacity, with the number of passengers carried rising by 5% to 6.76 million.
Meanwhile, AirAsia X Bhd said its overall operating performance improved in Q4’16, resulting from the successful turnaround initiatives implemented during the year.
It recorded a 40% increase in passengers carried to 1.38 million in Q4’16, in line with the capacity growth of 43%. The huge capacity injected during the quarter was to cater demand rising from year-end holiday travel.
However, its passenger load factor dropped 2% to 81% against 83% for the same period last year, as available seat per kilometers grew 44% to 8.47 billion in Q4’16.
Operationally, AirAsia said 2016 has been a success turnaround story with various phases of turnaround initiative carried out positively during the year.
“Moving forward into 2017, AirAsia X remains cautious and anticipate a challenging environment, however, the management remains confident to ensure sustainable growth,” it noted.