Category Archives: AirAsia (Vietnam)

AirAsia reports improved results in the first quarter of 2022

Capital A Berhad (formerly known as AirAsia Group Berhad) (“Capital A” or the “Group”) presents the following operating statistics for its airline business for the First Quarter of the Financial Year 2022 (“1Q2022”).

Capital A Berhad Consolidated AOCs¹ has posted another significantly improved result across key operational metrics including a healthy load factor of 76% and capacity of 4.9 million passengers carried respectively in 1Q2022. The number of passengers carried has increased by 284% to 3.7 million year-on-year (“YoY”) in 1Q2022 leading to a 9 percentage points (“ppts”) improvement in load factor. The Group introduced additional capacity of 238% YoY to support the surge in demand, alongside relaxed travel restrictions across the Group. As a result, Available Seat Kilometres (“ASK”) soared by 223% and Revenue Passenger Kilometres (“RPK”) jumped by 264% YoY, primarily attributable to the strong domestic travel rebound and the gradual further easing of travel restrictions in 1Q2022.

For AirAsia Malaysia, the number of passengers carried and the capacity improvement jumped 464% and 455% respectively, compared to the same quarter in the previous year, off the back of the resumption of a significant number of additional domestic flights and the relaunch of numerous domestic routes to connect people between major cities, particularly during the festive season. In 1Q2022, the load factor increased by 1 ppt YoY to 74%. ASK jumped 475% and RPK jumped 476% YoY. These very promising achievements were driven by added frequencies of domestic flights in line with increased demand and were also attributed to the promotional campaigns that took place in 1Q2022.

AirAsia Indonesia also achieved a much improved load factor of 76% in 1Q2022, which surged 20 ppts YoY. Passengers carried and capacity improved by 126% and 141% quarter-on-quarter (“QoQ”), respectively, off the back of additional frequency added for domestic flights, particularly Jakarta to Denpasar and between Jakarta and Medan, to meet huge pent-up demand. The RPK surged 129% to 436 million from 190 million QoQ and increased 22% YoY from 357 million in the quarter.

AirAsia Philippines has continued to record the Group’s highest quarterly load factor at 86%, which rose by 12 ppts YoY, uninterrupted by the steep rise of Omicron variant cases in the Philippines during the quarter. In 1Q2022, the number of seats sold and capacity increased 233% and 186% respectively, compared to the same period last year. Similarly, ASK and the number of flights flown rocketed 203% and 186% YoY, with the support of the huge summer demand following the Philippines Government’s confirmation of further relaxed travel protocols.

In 1Q2022, AirAsia Thailand carried 1.45 million passengers, up 48 ppts YoY, an impressive increase over the past two consecutive quarters, mainly due to a strong recovery in travel demand and the easing of the entry rules as well as the reopening of the Thailand Pass (Test & Go). Noticeably, international tourist arrivals to Thailand increased as a consequence. Furthermore, AirAsia Thailand has increased its flight frequency and routes to cater for the evolving resurgence in travel demand, eventuating in a 32% growth in flights flown to 11,002 flights, in part, from a resumption of international flights. Similarly, the ASK and the seating capacity also improved by 34% on a robust rebound. Moreover, AirAsia Thailand has reallocated its capacity and flights to align with the reviving demand. As a result, the load factor in the reporting quarter was recorded at 73%, rising 7 ppts from the same period last year.

Capital A Berhad Consolidated AOCs – Malaysia, Indonesia & Philippines
1st Quarter 2022 Operating Statistics

Note: (i) The fleet count excludes:
– Two (2) A320 aircraft leased to a third party airline

Malaysia
1st Quarter 2022 Operating Statistics

Note: (ii) The fleet count excludes:
– Two (2) A320 aircraft leased to a third party airline

Indonesia
1st Quarter 2022 Operating Statistics

Philippines
1st Quarter 2022 Operating Statistics

Thailand
1st Quarter 2022 Operating Statistics

1. Number of earned seats flown. Earned seats comprise seats sold to passengers (including no-shows)
2. Number of seats flown
3. Number of Passengers Carried as a percentage of Capacity
4. Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) measures an airline’s passenger capacity. Total seats flown multiplied by the number of kilometres flown
5. Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPK) is a measure of the volume of passengers carried by the airline. Number of passengers multiplied by the number of kilometres these passengers have flown
6. Number of flights flown
7. Number of aircraft including spares

¹ Capital A Berhad Consolidated AOCs refers to AOCs whose financial and operational results are consolidated for financial reporting purposes and these are the Malaysian, Indonesian and Philippines AOCs.

History of AirAsia liveries:

AirAsia Group is now Capital A

AirAsia Group Berhad has announced a name change for the group holding company to become Capital A Berhad (Capital A or the Group).

The name change reflects the Group’s new core business strategy as an investment holding company with a portfolio of synergistic travel and lifestyle businesses, which have rapidly transformed the AirAsia brand into much more than just an airline.

CEO of Capital A, Tony Fernandes said: “This is not just about unveiling a new logo. It’s a significant milestone that marks a new era for the Group. Today’s announcement reinforces we are not just an airline anymore.

“While the airline will always underpin the AirAsia brand, it has long been my firm intention, well before Covid hit, to leverage the strong data we have built up over 20 years and incorporate industry-leading new technologies to offer a broad range of products and services, over and above selling just airfares. The pandemic has allowed us to accelerate that strategy.

“Our brand has continuously evolved based on driving innovation and meeting ever changing consumer demand. The strategy behind the change of name is to introduce a new corporate identity that better reflects the Group’s core businesses today and its future undertakings, in tandem with our rapid transformation from an airline into a one-stop digital travel and lifestyle services group. We believe that the new company name will also further enhance the marketability of our products and boost the success of our Group for the long haul.

“Essentially Capital A is an investment company with a broad portfolio of businesses which all deliver the best value at the lowest cost, supported by strong data built up over two decades. We also have one of Asia’s leading brands to ride on, a strong people-first culture and an underlying promise of remaining committed to serving the underserved in all that we do. Just like what the airline has done from day one, all of our different lines of business will deliver the same strategy that is underscored by doing what we do best – making travel and everyday lifestyle services affordable, accessible and inclusive to all.

“We are now delivering more products and services under one umbrella than any other brand in Asean and with access to over 700 million people in the region, I foresee incredible growth opportunities for our brand across many different industries in all of our core markets.

“We have 16 products and services on our airasia Super App, providing not only the best value flight and travel deals but also everyday lifestyle needs, from food to retail and e-commerce, to same day delivery, ride hailing and much more. We are already one of the top three online travel agents (OTAs) in Asean and our super app is on track to become the leading lifestyle app in the region very soon.

“All of our portfolio businesses are well on the way to becoming industry leaders in their respective fields across Southeast Asia, including BigPay, our aircraft engineering division Asia Digital Engineering (ADE) and logistics venture Teleport.

“We already have over 50 million monthly unique visitors on our super app which has been recognised as a tech unicorn in under two years, our fintech business BigPay, has been given a significant injection of USD $100million from South Korea conglomerate SK Group and overall we have raised over RM2.5 billion to date through our fundraising strategy. Following strong consumer and investor support for our transformation strategy, we now set our sights on further capital raising initiatives for the airasia Super App, Teleport and ADE which will be announced in due course.”

On the airline, Tony commented: “While Capital A will be the new Group holding company name, one thing that isn’t changing is the AirAsia brand name for our airlines. It’s one of the strongest brands in Asia and provides a solid platform for all of our other products and services to leverage from each other.

“Even though the last two years have been the most difficult and disrupted years in the history of commercial aviation, I welcome the year ahead with much greater confidence. Domestic air travel has already started to rebound in our key markets. While there may be some delays for international flights to return to pre-Covid levels due to the Omicron variant, I believe this will be short-lived as many global health experts are also predicting, alongside accelerated vaccines and booster shots as well as the world gradually learning to live with Covid. I am hopeful borders will reopen gradually throughout 2022 and we will see a return to normal capacity for our international services by the middle to third quarter of this year.

“Over the past two years we have spent the downturn in flying building a solid foundation for a viable and successful future, which is not solely reliant on airfares alone. Capital A signals an exciting new era for our airlines and all of our other portfolio businesses within the Group as we embark on a significant new growth phase.

“Importantly, the best is yet to come. We have pivoted, we have transformed and we have a five year plan in place which will see non airline revenues contributing around 50 percent of overall Group revenue by 2026. Once the airlines return to pre-Covid levels in the near future all of our other lines of business will benefit significantly and will all soar to new heights in tandem with one another.”

By 2026 Capital A aims to achieve amongst others:

Group airlines connecting over 1 billion people in Asean.
The engineering division (ADE) becomes an industry leader for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services in Southeast Asia.
airasia Super App to be the super app of choice in Asean.
10 million monthly active users for BigPay.
10% market share in Southeast Asia for Teleport, in the logistics and e-commerce industry.
5 million sign ups for edutech arm AirAsia Academy.
Over 21 million monthly orders on airasia grocer.

The new holding company name, Capital A, is immediately effective following the successful registration of the name by the Companies Commision of Malaysia announced on January 3 and the subsequent formal approvals received yesterday.

The name change from AirAsia Group Berhad to Capital A Berhad will not have any effect on the Company’s ongoing operations. The AirAsia stock name on the main Board of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad will change with immediate effect to reflect the new company name.

AirAsia converts its remaining Airbus A320 aircraft orders to the A321neo

AirAsia Group has reaffirmed its commitment to transform its present mainly-A320 aircraft fleet to the higher-capacity, more fuel-efficient Airbus A321neo with the signing of an amendment agreement with Airbus S.A.S., in which AirAsia will convert its remaining A320 aircraft orders to the A321neo.

The contract marked AirAsia’s commitment to purchase the largest model in the best-selling A320 Family. Seating up to 236 passengers in a single class layout, the A321neo will enable the airline to increase capacity while benefiting from the lowest operating costs in the single aisle category. Equipped with Airbus’s Space-Flex Cabin that allows for a more efficient configuration of the cabin space, the A321neo delivers an optimal passenger comfort and efficiency.

With the conversion of its remaining 13 A320 undelivered aircraft to the A321neo, AirAsia now has a total order of 362 A321neo aircraft that will be allocated based on demand among its airlines within the Group, with deliveries up until 2035, as agreed between AirAsia and Airbus.

AirAsia received its first A321neo in November 2019 and currently has a total of 4 A321neo in service.

At present, the Group has a total fleet size of 211 aircraft comprising 169 A320, 38 A320neo and 4 A321neo aircraft.

AirAsia signs Memorandum of Cooperation for Vietnam JV

Top Photo: AirAsia. AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes (front center left) shakes hands with Tran Trong Kien, CEO of Thien Minh Travel Joint Stock Company CEO and General Director of Hai Au Aviation Joint Stock Company, after the memorandum signing witnessed by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (center right) and Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Quang Tung (centre left), flanked by the Vice Chairmen of the Vietnamese Advisory Council to the Prime Minister on Administrative Procedures Reform, VinaCapital Group CO-Founder and CEO Don Lam (far left) and FPT Corporation Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO Truong Gia Binh (far right), who is also Chairman of Vietnam’s Private Sector Development Committee.

AirAsia (Malaysia) has made this announcement about a new joint venture in Vietnam:

AirAsia has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation reaffirming its intention to set up a low-cost carrier in Vietnam with local partners.

The memorandum was signed by AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes and Vietnamese businessman Tran Trong Kien, in his capacity as CEO of Thien Minh Travel Joint Stock Company (TMG) and General Director of Hai Au Aviation Joint Stock Company (HAA), at the InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 on December 6, 2018.

The signing, conducted on the sidelines of the Vietnam Travel and Tourism Summit 2018, was witnessed by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam and Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Quang Tung.

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said, “AirAsia is an Asean airline. And in Asean, Vietnam is one of the last remaining countries with a large population we’re not in. Today’s memorandum reaffirms our commitment to making AirAsia in Vietnam happen. Last year, when we announced this JV, we were bullish about Vietnam and we remain incredibly bullish about serving one of the most dynamic, fastest-growing economies in Asia.

“AirAsia is already the largest foreign airline group in Vietnam by capacity. We currently operate to five destinations here, including our most recent addition, Phu Quoc. And we will continue to expand our network to connect Vietnam to Asean and beyond, something our local JV will be able to accelerate. We couldn’t be more excited about the prospect of bringing more visitors to this amazing country and delivering true low-cost air travel to 95 million Vietnamese in the near future.”

TMG CEO and HAA General Director Tran Trong Kien said, “Vietnam tourism has performed extremely well. The number of international arrivals has doubled over the last three years and domestic and outbound travel have also grown tremendously. The sector has contributed greatly to recent economic development and social progress. Vietnam as a country needs better connectivity to continue this trend and for tourism to reach its full potential. Adding a new airline, especially at this stage and with an experienced operator like AirAsia, is a much needed and welcomed move. This new airline will bring more and better choices to our people in the years to come.”

AirAsia operates 141 return flights weekly on 13 routes – including six unique routes – connecting Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc with Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor Bharu in Malaysia, Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand and Manila in the Philippines, and has carried 12 million passengers to and from Vietnam since entering the market in 2005.