KUALA LUMPUR May 9 — Low-cost carrier, AirAsia Bhd, has recorded a higher load factor of 86 per cent in the first quarter of this year, up 9.0 percentage points against the same period last year.

"The number of passengers carried increased 17 per cent, year-on-year, (YoY) to 13.9 million, well ahead of the 6.0 per cent increase in capacity," it said in a statement today.

At the end of the quarter under review, AirAsia said the group’s total fleet size stood at 171 aircraft, including one aircraft that was delivered to AirAsia Japan which has not commenced operations.

For Malaysia, AirAsia posted a load factor of 85 per cent in the first quarter, up 10 percentage points year-on-year.

"Demand exceeded capacity with a 17 per cent increase in the number of passengers carried at 6.48 million and 3.0 per cent year-on-year increase in capacity," it added.

Malaysia AirAsia ended the quarter with a total fleet of 80 aircraft.   

Five new routes commenced operations during the quarter: Kuala Lumpur – Shantou; Kota Kinabalu – Wuhan; Penang – Ho Chi Minh City and Yangon; and Langkawi – Guangzhou.

Frequencies were added on four routes: Kuala Lumpur – Alor Setar, Colombo and Penang; Kota Kinabalu – Miri. — Bernama