AirAsia X has reported that in the first quarter of 2019 that the number of passengers it flew decline by five per cent year-on-year (YOY) to 1.51 million.
The carrier said the passenger load factor (PLF) across its network was down one percentage point to 83 per cent. AirAsiaX reduced capacity in Q1.
Available seats per kilometre also reduced five per cent YYY at 8,707 million due to shorter stage routes in operation following the termination of Tehran, Kathmandu and Male after Q1 2018.
The airline said the YOY variance is evident as the company optimised its route network by terminating non-core routes and redeployed capacity and frequency after 1Q18.
AirAsia X has optimised its network and added new links. In January 2019, AirAsia X Malaysia began serving the Taipei-Osaka route and in February 2019, launched direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Fukuoka, which serves as the latest route in Japan and it said has recorded strong PLF since route commencement.
The airline said: “In moving our focus away from single-route countries and supporting growth in our core markets, AirAsia X Malaysia terminated Auckland, New Zealand in February 2019.
“Furthermore the Company undertook capacity realignment on selected routes during the quarter, namely Taipei, Gold Coast, Perth and Sydney as the focus remains on advancing yield. The fleet size of AirAsia X Malaysia remains at 24 A330s as at the end of March 2019.”
AirAsia X Thailand’s PLF for 1Q19 remains robust at 90 per cent despite a 38 per cent YOY increase in seat capacity, compared to last year’s 94 per cent. Following the addition of three aircraft in Thailand after 1Q18, the number of passengers carried recorded a 32 per cent YOY increase, standing at 665,432 passengers carried during the quarter under review.
While no new routes were introduced during 1Q19, AirAsia X Thailand’s network reflects now totals six routes as at March 2019, compared to four routes in 1Q18. AirAsia X Thailand added one aircraft during the quarter, bringing its fleet size to 10 aircraft as at end of March 2019.
AirAsia X Indonesia served its final scheduled flight from Bali to Tokyo in January 2019, and will now operate on a non-scheduled flight basis moving forward.
The number of aircraft operated by AirAsia X Indonesia remains at 2 A330s, bringing the total AirAsia X Group’s fleet size to 36 A330s as at end of 1Q19, including four aircraft which are on direct third-party lease to AirAsia X Thailand.
