AirAsia carries 25% more passengers in 2013
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AirAsia achieved strong growth in passenger traffic last year, as new aircraft deliveries boosted demand.
The low-cost carrier group carried 42.6 million passengers in 2013, 25% more than the 34.1m it recorded in the previous year. And this growth was largely in line with the growth of AirAsia’s available seat capacity.
The airline added 39 new Airbus A320 aircraft last year, expanding its total fleet size to 154 aircraft, and boosting its seat capacity by 26%. Average cabin load factors remained static at 79%.
By region, Malaysia AirAsia remains the group’s biggest unit, carrying 21.9m passengers in 2013 – up 11% year-on-year. This was helped by the launch of extra flights from Kuala Lumpur to several international destinations, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nanning and Vientiane, and the launch if a new route between Kota Kinabalu and Kota Bharu.
Thai AirAsia carried 10.5m passengers last year, 26% more than 2012, and recently launched new routes from Bangkok to Siem Reap, Khon Kaen, Kunming and Phitsanulok, and from Krabi to Singapore and Chiang Mai.
AirAsia’s Indonesian unit continued its strong growth last year, with passenger traffic rising 34% to 7.9m and its fleet size expanding to 30 aircraft by the end of the year.
Finally AirAsia Philippines experienced a surge in traffic in 2013, carrying 2.2m passengers with a fleet of 17 aircraft. This compares to just 311,000 passengers with two aircraft in 2012.
AirAsia ceased operating its Japanese carrier in September last year however, following the end of its agreement with ANA. And this year, the group plans to launch a new India-based LCC, based in Chennai.
And with outstanding orders for more than 280 more A320 aircraft, AirAsia has the scope to grow considerably in the years ahead.
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