KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Group Bhd’s consolidated air operator’s certificate (AOCs) recorded the highest quarterly load factor and capacity at 80% and 3.4 million, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2021 since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

       The budget carrier said passengers carried increased 103% to 2.7 million year-on-year (y-o-y) in the fourth quarter, which surpassed the capacity increase of 70%, leading to a 13-percentage-point (ppt) improvement in load factor to 80%.

       Available seat kilometres grew by 72% y-o-y, primarily attributable to strong demand from the introduction of quarantine-free travel bubbles for Malaysia and the easing of travel restrictions in the fourth quarter.

       “In financial year 2021 (FY21), the load factor for the consolidated AOCs remained healthy at 74%, with strategies implemented to manage the multiple disruptive lockdowns imposed by the respective governments,” it said in a statement.

       The carrier said the improved monthly performance of passengers carried and additional capacity across the group indicated a V-shaped resumption trend in air travel demand throughout 2021.

       Additionally, the group expects to see a surge in demand following recent announcements that the Thai government is resuming its quarantine-free travel scheme from Feb 1, 2022 and the Malaysia government resuming the vaccinated travel lane between Malaysia and Singapore effective Jan 24, 2022.

       “AirAsia Malaysia passengers and capacity increased by 164% and 139%, respectively, as compared to the same quarter of previous year on the back of rising demand after the reopening of state borders as announced by the government of Malaysia.”