Capital A records healthy 1Q load factor of 76%

KUALA LUMPUR (April 28): Capital A Bhd's consolidated air operator's certificates (AOCs) recorded a healthy load factor of 76% and capacity of 4.9 million passengers carried in the first quarter of 2022 (1Q22).

The holding company of AirAsia Aviation Group said the AOCs posted another set of significantly improved results across key operational metrics for the quarter under review.

“The number of passengers carried increased by 284% to 3.7 million year-on-year (y-o-y) in 1Q22, leading to a nine percentage point (ppt) improvement in the load factor,” it said in a statement on Thursday (April 28).

Capital A also said the group introduced additional capacity of 238% y-o-y to support the surge in demand, alongside relaxed travel restrictions across the group.

“As a result, available seat kilometres (ASK) soared by 223% and revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) jumped by 264% y-o-y, primarily attributable to a strong domestic travel rebound and gradual further easing of travel restrictions in 1Q22,” it said.

For AirAsia Malaysia, it said, the number of passengers carried and the capacity improvement jumped 464% and 455% respectively, compared to the same quarter in the previous year, off the back of the resumption of a significant number of additional domestic flights and the relaunch of numerous domestic routes to connect people between major cities, particularly during the festive season.

In 1Q22, the load factor increased by 1 ppt y-o-y to 74%, while ASK surged 475% and RPK jumped 476% y-o-y.

“These very promising achievements were driven by added frequencies of domestic flights in line with increased demand and were also attributed to the promotional campaigns that took place in 1Q22,” it said.

Capital A said AirAsia Indonesia also achieved a much improved load factor of 76% in the quarter, surging 20 ppts y-o-y, with passengers carried and capacity improving by 126% and 141% quarter-on-quarter respectively.

Meanwhile, AirAsia Philippines continued to record the group’s highest quarterly load factor at 86%, which rose by 12 ppts y-o-y, uninterrupted by a steep rise in Omicron variant cases in the Philippines during the period.

“In 1Q22, the number of seats sold and capacity increased 233% and 186% respectively, compared to the same period last year.

“Similarly, ASK and the number of flights flown rocketed 203% and 186% y-o-y, with the support of huge summer demand following the Philippine government’s confirmation of further relaxed travel protocols,” it said.

As for AirAsia Thailand, Capital A said it carried 1.45 million passengers, up 48 ppts y-o-y, mainly due to a strong recovery in travel demand and easing of the entry rules as well as the reopening of the Thailand pass (Test & Go).

Noticeably, it said, international tourist arrivals to Thailand increased as a result.

“Furthermore, AirAsia Thailand has increased its flight frequency and routes to cater for the evolving resurgence in travel demand, eventuating in a 32% growth in flights flown to 11,002 flights, in part from a resumption of international flights. Similarly, the ASK and seating capacity also improved by 34% on a robust rebound.

“Moreover, AirAsia Thailand has reallocated its capacity and flights to align with the reviving demand. As a result, the load factor in the reporting quarter was recorded at 73%, rising 7 ppts from the same period last year,” it said.