By FARA AISYAH / pic by TMR GRAPHIC

AIRASIA Group Bhd recorded an impressive 19% year-on-year (YoY) growth in capacity in the second quarter of 2019 (2Q19) on rising demand for air travel in the region.

The airline carried a total of 12.8 million passengers in the three months, an 18% growth YoY resulting in a load factor of 85%, its press release yesterday noted.

Available seat kilometres (ASK) also improved by 17% YoY, as the group continued to expand its network through the strategic addition of new routes and increased frequencies to domestic and international destinations.

As for AirAsia Malaysia, the capacity grew 13% YoY, resulting in 11% more or 8.8 million passengers carried in 2Q19.

“The growth rate exceeded that of the industry average as AirAsia Malaysia continued to increase its market dominance, while load factor remained strong at 84%,” the company said.

AirAsia Indonesia also added 56% more capacity in 2Q19, following the transfer of eight aircraft in 4Q18.

It similarly recorded a substantial increase of 58% in passengers carried compared to the same period last year.

“Despite the increased capacity, strong demand from seasonality of Lebaran and school holidays has positively contributed to a load factor of 82%, up one percentage point (ppt) YoY,” AirAsia added.

AirAsia Philippines added an additional 18% capacity in the quarter on increased frequencies of domestic routes, and a solid 22% increase in passengers carried YoY.

AirAsia Thailand reported capacity growth of 8%, which was backed by a 5% growth in passengers carried YoY.

The low cost carrier group stated AirAsia India further expanded its capacity by 21% YoY in line with the company’s strategy to grow its domestic market share.

Its total passengers carried surpassed the additional capacity growth to 25%, recording a strong load factor of 90% in the quarter reported.

AirAsia Japan’s passengers increased 79% while capacity expanded 81% YoY. Its load factor held steady at 78%.

Meanwhile, AirAsia X Bhd recorded passenger load factor of 80%, marginally down by one ppt YoY.

The number of passengers carried during the quarter stood at 1.45 million, a decline of 7% YoY from 1.57 million in the same quarter last year.

The company’s ASK was reduced by 6% YoY to 8,442 million on the back of seasonal capacity management and current operation of shorter stage routes compared to prior year. The fleet size of AirAsia X Malaysia remains at 24 A330s as at the end of June 2019.

On the associates, AirAsia X Thailand carried a total of 541,509 passengers, rising by 12% YoY.

ASK capacity was recorded at 3.23 billion, an increase of 32% YoY as compared to last year’s 2.45 billion, the carrier noted in a separate statement.

AirAsia X Indonesia’s operations of scheduled flights remain in suspension.

The total fleet size of AirAsia X Group is 36 Airbus A330s as at the end of June 2019, including four aircraft which are on direct third-party lease to AirAsia X Thailand.