[flee]

BUDGET carrier AirAsia Bhd (5099) released preliminary operating statistics for itself as well its two Indonesian and Thai affiliates yesterday, in a move seen to not only bolster investor confidence but also provide more clarity on the airline, and its affiliates.

This is the first time, the airline has given out such detailed operating statistics, even to analysts, before the release of its quarterly results.

Its second quarter of 2010 results should be out by the end of August.

Analysts have been privy to preliminary operating statistics prior to its quarterly announcements for some years now, but this is the first time that Indonesia and Thailand statistics have been included. It is also the first time the report has been released to the media.

The move comes following the promise for more clarity on its operations and the AirAsia group's plan to list three of its affiliates, long-haul budget carrier AirAsia X, Thai AirAsia and Indonesia AirAsia separately.

According to the preliminary statistics, AirAsia carried 10.6 per cent more people in the second quarter of 2010, compared with a year ago.

Load factor, grew to 77 per cent from 75 per cent in the previous corresponding quarter, despite a 7.5 per cent increase in capacity.

The all important yield performance, which is considered sensitive information to the stock exchange, however was not disclosed.

On Indonesia AirAsia, the statistics showed that the subsidiary carried about 10 per cent more passengers during the second quarter of 2010 compared with 2009.

Load factor maintained at 75 per cent though, as capacity grew in tandem with the number of passengers the airline carried.

Thai AirAsia carried 11 per cent more passengers and, managed to grow load factor to 75 per cent for the quarter, compared with 70 per cent in the second quarter of 2009.

The month of June was the only time the carrier saw a decline in passenger numbers for the quarter, with a 5 per cent decline in passenger traffic.

Thai AirAsia also cut capacity by 6.1 per cent during the month compared with 2009.

"Their reputation took quite a hit in 2008, with the fuel hedging issue, so I think it's their way of addressing those issues as well as trying to allay some of the confusion which has been surrounding AirAsia and its affiliates," an analyst who declined to be named said.

The public can look forward to more such releases, as AirAsia plans to make it a permanent fixture in the airlines' corporate calendar.

Source: http://www.btimes.co...l#ixzz0v8Yg6K7A

[aaronhiew]

Pax increased, thumbs up for better load factor. :clapping:

[flee]

I think AK is more aggressive in flight cancellations this year so that load factor is higher. Load factor numbers may not tell the whole story!