Capital A’s passenger capacity surges 284% to 3.7 million

KUALA LUMPUR: Capital A Bhd’s (formerly AirAsia Group Bhd) consolidated air operator's certificates recorded a load factor of 76% and capacity of 4.9 million passengers carried in the first quarter of 2022.

In a statement yesterday, Capital A said the number of passengers carried rose 284% to 3.7 million year-on-year (y-o-y) in the first quarter of 2022, leading to a nine percentage points improvement in load factor.

“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 the strong domestic travel rebound and the gradual further easing of travel restrictions in the first quarter of 2022,” it said.

For AirAsia Malaysia, Capital A said the number of passengers carried and the capacity improvement jumped 464% and 455% respectively, compared with the same quarter in the previous year.

“In the first quarter of 2022, the load factor increased by one percentage point y-o-y to 74%. ASK jumped 475% and RPK surged 476% y-o-y."

Capital A said AirAsia Indonesia achieved an improved load factor of 76% in the first quarter of 2022, surging 20 percentage points y-o-y.

“AirAsia Philippines has continued to record the group’s highest quarterly load factor at 86%, which rose by 12 percentage points yy-o-y and was uninterrupted by the steep rise of Omicron variant cases in the Philippines during the quarter.”

The group added that AirAsia Thailand carried 1.45 million passengers during the first quarter of 2022, up 48 percentage points y-o-y.