KUALA LUMPUR: Capital A Bhd
’s (formerly AirAsia Group Bhd) consolidated airlines carried over 7.8 million passengers in the fourth quarter of 2022 (4Q22), an increase of 187% year-on-year (YoY).
The group, in a statement, said this is on the back of 9.1 million seat capacity injected during the quarter leading to a consistent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) 86% load factor.
Capital A said in 4Q22, the school holidays, festive seasons, and general election peak periods led to the consolidated airlines achieving almost 50,000 flights, up by 171% YoY.
The consolidated airlines operated 84 aircraft, an additional 16 operating aircraft from the preceding quarter.
“Correspondingly, available-seat-kilometres (ASK) grew by 258% YoY to about 10 billion, approaching 53% of pre-Covid ASK in the same period, while revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) reached 54% of 4Q19 level,” it said.
“For FY22, the consolidated airlines saw an increase in the number of passengers to 24.2 million, up by 404% YoY, exceeding the jump in capacity of 345% YoY,” Capital A said, adding that this resulted in 84% load factor, one percentage point (ppt) away from achieving pre-Covid load factor.
Seats sold for international flights continued to surge by 3536% YoY as international borders reopened alongside the loosening of travel restrictions regionally, while seats sold for domestic flights were up by 290% YoY.
Its ASK and RPK rose by 410% and 488% YoY respectively, in tandem with the increase in capacity and passengers carried.
For AirAsia Malaysia, Capital A said it recorded a load factor of 87% in 4Q22, a one ppt improvement from the preceding quarter and five ppts from 4Q19.
Compared to 4Q21, 38 additional international destinations were resumed in the same period this year, contributing to a surge in seats sold for international flights by 6424% YoY and 26% QoQ.
In total, AirAsia Malaysia flew to 17 domestic destinations and 48 international destinations in 4Q22.
For the full year of 2022, AirAsia Malaysia successfully achieved a pre-Covid load factor of 84% while carrying 48% of FY19 passengers at 16.8 million.
Capital A said AirAsia Indonesia posted a lower load factor of 78% in 4Q2022, down by 3 ppts YoY and 4 ppts QoQ owing to a notable 43% YoY capacity increase in the market.
For FY2022, AirAsia Indonesia flew 3.25 million passengers with close to 23,000 flights on 16 operational aircraft.
AirAsia Philippines recorded a healthy load factor of 87% in 4Q22 up by 2 ppts YoY and down by 2 ppt QoQ, yet still higher than the 4Q2019 load factor of 85%.
For FY22, AirAsia Philippines flew 4.2 million passengers, equivalent to 49% of pre-Covid passengers carried, resulting in a load factor of 89%, the highest among all air operator certificates (AOCs).
