Bangkok--14 May--AirAsia
AAV Announced its 1Q13
Achieved Target Growth with Rapid Increase in Passengers
Accelerated Aircraft Acquisition Plan in Response to Market Expansion
Revenue Baht 6,029.0 million, Net Profit (attributable to parent) Baht 397.3 million
Thai AirAsia stays on its growth course in the first quarter of 2013, achieving revenue of Baht 6,029.0 million, up 24%, net profit of Baht 739.0 million, up 55%, and transporting a total of 2.6 million passengers, an increase of 20 % year on year. The greatest rise in passengers was seen in March at over 920 thousand passengers in one month for the first time while the airline maintained a load factor of 87% comparing year on year.
Thai AirAsia’s strong growth resulted in a satisfactory performance report in 1Q13 for Asia Aviation Plc. or AAV, the major shareholder of Thai AirAsia, having revenue of Baht 6,029.0 million and net profit (attributable to parent) of Baht 397.3 million.
Mr. Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Asia Aviation. Plc. or AAV, the major shareholder of Thai AirAsia, remarked that Thai AirAsia’s strong growth was in line with its increase in capacity. In 1Q13, Thai AirAsia acquired 1 new Airbus A320, bringing its fleet to 28 at the end of the quarter (versus 24 aircraft as at 1Q12). The addition allowed the airline to increase the frequency of flights to popular domestic destinations such as Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Hat Yai, as well as to strengthen its networks in China and throughout Indochina, both of which experienced rapid expansion during the period. According to the Department of Tourism 1Q13 statistics, Chinese visitors to Thailand increased by 97 percent (over 850,000 people), in which more than 50% of those travelers travelling with AirAsia. Chinese travelers that chose AirAsia grew by a total 140% year on year.
Thai AirAsia's move to Don Mueang Airport also enabled its better cost management and enhanced its service quality, having an average on-time performance of 90% in 1Q13, which showed a solid development for the airline's concrete progress.
Mr. Tassapon has forecasted that Thai AirAsia is on course to achieve its goals for 2013, most notably to continue expanding its fleet and increasing its capacity. The airline has decided to increase its aircraft acquisition target for the year from 7 to 8 to keep in step with the rising number of passengers. Thai AirAsia now targets to finish the year with a fleet of 35 new aircraft, servicing a total of 10 million passengers, up from 8.3 million passengers in 2012 and 6.9 million passengers in 2011.