KUALA LUMPUR (July 27): AirAsia Group Bhd said today total passengers carried by its Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines operations increased 13% in the second quarter ended June 30, 2018 (2Q18) to 10.88 million from 9.61 million a year earlier due to higher capacity.

Budget airline AirAsia Group's Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines operations are collectively known as consolidated aircraft operating certificates (AOCs). AirAsia Group said the consolidated AOCs' financial and operational results are consolidated for financial reporting purposes.

In a statement today, AirAsia Group said capacity or number of seats flown recorded by the consolidated AOCs rose 17% to 12.72 million seats from 10.83 million seats.

"AirAsia Group consolidated AOCs posted a strong load factor of 86% and 17% increase in seat capacity during the quarter under review. Despite the significant increase in capacity, load factor was only down marginally by 3 percentage points as compared to the same period last year.

"In the quarter under review, AirAsia Group consolidated AOCs' total fleet size grew to 124 aircraft, comprising 88 in Malaysia (AirAsia Bhd), 15 in Indonesia (PT AirAsia Indonesia Tbk) and 21 in the Philippines (Philippines AirAsia Inc)," AirAsia Group said.

Individually, AirAsia Group said passengers carried by its Malaysia and Philippines operations rose 11% and 39% respectively while Indonesian operations' total passengers carried fell 4%.

AirAsia Group also has operations in Thailand, India and Japan. AirAsia Group said total passengers carried by AirAsia Thailand and AirAsia India rose from a year earlier while AirAsia Japan's total passengers carried was higher in quarterly terms.

AirAsia Group said AirAsia Japan launched its first flight in the fourth quarter of 2017.

"AirAsia Thailand reported a load factor of 85%, marginally lower by 1 percentage point from the same quarter in 2017. The seat capacity grew by 15% year-on-year, while number of passengers carried during the quarter was 5.31 million, an increase of 13% year-on-year. AirAsia India carried 1.83 million passengers in 2Q18, an increase of 82% compared to the same quarter in 2017.

"AirAsia Japan achieved a load factor of 79% in 2Q18, unchanged quarter-on-quarter. AirAsia Japan carried over 57,000 passengers during the quarter under review, which was up 10% quarter-on-quarter. Frequencies were increased on the route originating from Nagoya. AirAsia Japan's fleet size stood at two aircraft at the end of the quarter under review," AirAsia Group said.