AirAsia X, the long-haul arm of the AirAsia Group, has reported a significant increase in passenger traffic for the second quarter of 2024. According to the airline, it carried a total of 880,265 passengers during this period, marking a 42% increase compared to the same quarter in 2023. This growth in passenger numbers surpassed the 25% year-on-year growth in the airline's available seat per kilometer (ASK) capacity.
The airline's ASK capacity for the second quarter of 2024 stood at 4,395 million, compared to 3,509 million in the corresponding period last year. This increase in capacity reflects the airline's efforts to meet growing demand by reactivating aircraft to support its expanding network. The growth in passenger traffic was driven by peak spring travel seasons in key markets and the Eid al-Fitr holiday period. AirAsia X also resumed flight operations to China's Xi'an in April, further strengthening its presence in this core market.
AirAsia X's load factor, which measures the percentage of available seats that are filled with passengers, increased by 7% year-on-year to reach 83%. This improvement in load factor indicates a more efficient utilization of the airline's capacity.
For the first half of 2024, AirAsia X Malaysia carried 1,839,888 passengers with a capacity of 2,217,946, resulting in an average load factor of 83%. These figures demonstrate AirAsia X's strong performance in the second quarter of 2024, driven by increased demand and the airline's strategic network expansion. The airline's ability to adapt to market conditions and capitalize on seasonal travel trends has played a key role in its success.