KUALA LUMPUR (May 9): AirAsia Bhd said its load factor for the first quarter ended March 31 (1QFY16) rose by nine percentage points to 86% from 77% a year ago.

In a statement today, the low-cost carrier said the number of passengers carried increased by 17% year-on-year (y-o-y) to 13.94 million from 11.88 million.

The number of seats flown or total capacity during the quarter was 16.29 million, 6% higher than 15.44 million seats reported for 1QFY15.

AirAsia's total fleet size stood at 170 at the end of 1QFY16, while another one aircraft that was delivered to AirAsia Japan Co Ltd in the previous quarter had not commenced operation.

AirAsia said its Malaysian operations posted a load factor of 85% in 1QFY16, up 10 percentage points y-o-y.

"Demand exceeded capacity with 17% increase in the number of passengers carried at 6.48 million and 3% y-o-y increase in capacity," it said.

In Malaysia, AirAsia ended the quarter with a total fleet of 80 aircraft, while commencing five new routes: Kuala Lumpur — Shantou, Kota Kinabalu — Wuhan, Penang — Ho Chi Minh City and Yangon, and Langkawi — Guangzhou.

Frequencies were added on four routes for Kuala Lumpur — Alor Setar, Colombo and Penang, and Kota Kinabalu — Miri.

For Thai AirAsia Co Ltd, the group said the 45%-owned associate recorded a load factor of 88% in 1Q16, up five percentage points from a year ago.

"Total number of passengers carried increased 18% y-o-y to 4.37 million, ahead of the 11% increase in capacity. During the quarter, Thai AirAsia took two additional aircraft and comparing y-o-y, five aircraft were added bringing its total fleet to 47 aircraft. Two new routes commenced operations: Phuket — Wuhan, and Bangkok — Luang Prabang," it said.

As for AirAsia's 48.9%-owned PT Indonesia AirAsia (IAA), load factor increased to 79% in 1QFY16, up nine percentage points from a year ago.

Number of passengers carried increased 2%, despite capacity reduction of 10% y-o-y, due to its turnaround plan, which saw two aircraft in 1QFY16 transferred out from IAA to the other affiliates, namely Thai AirAsia and AirAsia Philippines Inc.

IAA's total fleet at the end of 1QFY16 stood at 23 aircraft, which includes eight aircraft operated by PT Indonesia AirAsia Extra.

AirAsiaPhilippines, which is 39.9% owned by AirAsia, reported a load factor of 87% in 1QFY16, up 10 percentage points from a year ago.

Number of passengers carried grew 15% on-year to 970,000, supported by the increase in capacity of 2%. AirAsiaPhilippines ended the quarter with a total fleet of 14 aircraft.

Meanwhile, AirAsia (India) Pvt Ltd posted load factor of 86% in 1QFY16, up six percentage points from a year ago. Number of passengers carried stood at 540,000, up by 127% compared to 1QFY15. At the end of the quarter, its total fleet stood at six aircraft.