This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on November 30, 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Bhd, the largest low-cost carrier in Asia, reported a 30% year-on-year (y-o-y) rise in net profit in the third quarter of 2017, despite it being traditionally a weak quarter, amid rising fuel prices and currency fluctuations.

Net profit rose to RM434.31 million in the three months ended Sept 30, 2017 (3QFY17) from RM335.13 million a year ago, helped by lower deferred tax and strong demand for air travel.

Earnings per share grew to 15.1 sen from 12.7 sen a year ago. Quarterly revenue increased 15% to RM2.45 billion in 3QFY17, from RM2.13 billion in 3QFY16, supported by a load factor of 87%.

However, operating profit for 3QFY17 was lower by 7% y-o-y at RM494.34 million, mainly due to higher aircraft fuel expenses, maintenance and overhaul expenses.

Notably, the airline has consolidated its financial accounts for 3QFY17, combining its Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippine units.

In a statement yesterday, AirAsia said revenue per available seat kilometre averaged at 14.76 sen in 3QFY17, marginally lower by 1% from 14.98 sen a year ago.

The airline blamed the slight fall on lower average fare per passenger of RM172, down 2% y-o-y due to the shift in Hari Raya celebration to the second quarter of this year (2Q17) compared with 3Q16.

However, AirAsia saw its ancillary income increase 23% y-o-y to RM487 million in 3QFY17, mainly contributed from the execution of dynamic pricing across the board. Ancillary contribution per passenger grew 8% y-o-y to RM49. The airline achieved a 12% y-o-y growth in passengers carried in 3QFY17 despite a capacity addition of 14% y-o-y.

For the cumulative nine months (9MFY17), AirAsia reported a 19.4% decline in net profit to RM1.27 billion from RM1.57 billion a year ago, due to higher operating expenses from PT Indonesia AirAsia (IAA) and Philippines AirAsia. This was despite revenue increasing 41.1% to RM7.05 billion in 9MFY17 from RM5 billion in 9MFY16.

Nevertheless, AirAsia group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes (pic) believes 2017 will be another record year for the airline. “Our low-cost model has proven to be resilient and has produced continuous growth even when the operating environment appeared competitive and less favourable to many airlines,” he said in the statement.

Fernandes also said the airline is finalising the stock market listing of IAA. “We expect it to be completed by December.” He added that it is expecting to present a good full-year 2017 results for its Philippine operations.

Despite the less-than-favourable operating environment in Thailand, Fernandes said its 45%-owned associate Thai AirAsia still emerged as the only profitable airline recording a net profit of 472.1 million baht (RM58.99 million) in 3QFY17, but down 35.3% from 729.2 million baht in 3QFY16.

“The first 10 months of 2017 was challenging for our Thai associate as financial performance was affected by a crackdown on the Chinese zero dollar tours and the passing of the Thai king last year.

“The Chinese tourists have since started to return to Thailand, recording 7.39 million passengers — up 1% y-o-y in the last nine months of 2017. The official one-year mourning period for Thailand ended on Oct 29, 2017. We foresee a favourable season and a conducive operating environment for Thai AirAsia in 4Q.”

On its 49%-owned associate AirAsia India, Fernandes expects it to be profitable once it starts flying regional routes and connecting them to AirAsia’s wide network.

As at 3QFY17, AirAsia’s net gearing ratio stood at 1.2 times compared with 1.33 times in 3QFY16. On prospects, Fernandes said the airline will have 500 aircraft by 2027, with the addition of 22 aircraft this year and 33 aircraft in 2018.

“We will continue to expand our footprint in Asean. We are six months away from incorporating our new group’s holding company, AirAsia Global Bhd.”