KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia X Bhd
(AAX) achieved a passenger load factor (PLF) of 84% in the third quarter of 2024 (3Q24), an increase of four percentage points from the previous year.
In a statement, the carrier said the rise in PLF was supported by a 34% growth in the number of passengers carried, totalling 1.08 million during the quarter under review.
“This performance was realised as more aircraft returned to service over the past year, effectively ramping up seat capacity by 27% year-on-year (YoY) at 1.28 million seats while available seat per kilometre (ASK) capacity grew by 17% YoY at 5,141 million in 3Q24,” AAX said.
In 3Q24, AAX launched flights to Changsha (four times a week) and Medina (twice a week), and reintroduced its Taipei-Osaka route (seven times a week). It also increased flights to Hangzhou (six times weekly) and Xi’an (four times weekly) to enhance connectivity.
As of the end of September 2024, more than half the routes within its network served daily flights as the company continues to focus on catering to high travel demand.
Meanwhile, its associate, AirAsia X Thailand (TAAX), recorded a PLF of 80% for the quarter, down by two percentage points compared to the previous year.
This came on the back of higher seat capacity, which rose to 426,064 seats during the quarter, and TAAX’s number of passengers carried increased to 342,533 passengers.
AAX’s total fleet size remained at 18 A330s as of Sept 30, with 16 aircraft now activated and operational. TAAX’s fleet size stood at eight A330s, with seven aircraft activated and operational.
