AirAsia Berhad (“AirAsia” or “the company”) is pleased to announce the operating statistics for the 4th Quarter 2014 (“4Q14”) and the Full Financial Year ended 31 December 2014 (“FY2014”).

In 4Q14, the Group¹ recorded a load factor of 78%, down 3 percentage points (“ppts”) from the same period last year. Number of passengers carried increased 2% year-on-year (“y-o-y”) to 12.1 million, along with the 5% increase in capacity. For the full financial year ended 2014 (“FY2014”), the Group recorded a 7% y-o-y passenger growth, bringing the total number of passengers flown in 2014 to 45.6 million. This was in line with the growth in capacity which stood at 8%, allowing the Group to close the year with load factor of 78%. During the quarter under review, only 1 additional aircraft was added into the system, but y-o-y 18 aircraft were added which brings the total fleet size for the Group to 172 at the end of 2014.

Malaysia AirAsia (“MAA”) posted a load factor of 78% in 4Q14, on the back of 5.9 million passengers carried and 8% y-o-y increase in capacity. Balancing load factor and yield was key as the Management prioritised on driving fares up, taking advantage of a better fare environment. MAA introduced three new international routes in 4Q14: Johor Bahru – Bandung; Kuala Lumpur – Clark and Hyderabad. Frequencies were also increased on five routes: Kuala Lumpur – Singapore, Surat Thani, Kalibo and Balik Papan; Kota Kinabalu – Miri. No additional aircraft was added into Malaysia in 4Q14 but comparing y-o-y, MAA took in 9 aircraft and closed 2014 with 81 aircraft in total. For FY2014, MAA recorded a load factor of 79% and carried 22.1 million passengers, up 1% y-o-y.

Thai AirAsia (“TAA”) recorded a 79% load factor in the quarter under review. Total number of passengers carried in 4Q14 increased 16% y-o-y to 3.4 million with 19% y-o-y increase in capacity. This quarter, three new routes were introduced by TAA: Chiang Mai – Surat Thani; Bangkok – Sakon Nakhon; Krabi – Guangzhou. Frequencies were added in two routes: Chiang Mai – Krabi; Bangkok – Siem Reap. TAA did not take any additional aircraft in 4Q14, hence it closed the year with 40 aircraft in total, up 5 aircraft y-o-y. For FY2014, TAA continued to post a strong load factor of 80%, with 16% increase in the number of passengers carried at 12.2 million.

Following its route rationalisation exercise where non-profitable routes were cut-off, Indonesia AirAsia (“IAA”) recorded a strong increase in load factor at 80%. Despite a capacity reduction of 14% y-o-y, the number of passengers carried dropped by only 11% giving rise to an increase in load factor by 4 ppts. IAA introduced three new domestic routes in 4Q14: Medan – Yogyakarta and Palembang; Surabaya – Lombok. Frequencies were increased in five routes: Jakarta – Medan, Surabaya, Bali and Penang; Medan – Bangkok. IAA too did not receive any additional aircraft this quarter and none for this year as a whole as part of its turnaround plan, therefore its total fleet at the end of 2014 maintained at 30 aircraft. For FY2014, IAA posted a stronger load factor of 78% (up 2 ppt), and maintained a total of 7.9 million passengers carried.

Philippines’AirAsia (“PAA”) reported a load factor of 72% in 4Q14, a big increase from 64% recorded during the same period last year. Part of its turnaround exercise, PAA too recorded a drop in capacity of 32% y-o-y, nevertheless its number of passengers carried only registered a 24% y-o-y drop. This resulted in the significant 8 ppts increase in load factor this quarter. Two new routes were introduced in 4Q14: Cebu – Cagayan and Davao; whilst frequencies were increased in three routes: Cebu – Cagayan; Manila – Cebu and Kalibo. During the quarter, no additional aircraft was added into PAA, as management was focus on turning around the associate with its current resources, hence PAA closed the year with a total fleet of 15² aircraft (down 2 aircraft y-o-y). For FY2014, PAA recorded an increase of 7 ppts in its load factor to 70% and carried a total of 3.0 million passengers, up 36% y-o-y.

AirAsia India’s (“AAI”) operating statistics are disclosed and included in the Group’s numbers since 3Q14. In its second full quarter of operations (4Q14), AAI carried a total of 0.22 million passengers with a strong load factor of 83%. AAI was the only one in the Group to receive an additional aircraft in 4Q14, which brings its total fleet to 3 aircraft at the end of the year. From its hub in Bengaluru, AAI launched two new routes in 4Q14: Bengaluru – Pune; Pune – Jaipur. Frequencies were increased in one route: Bengaluru – Jaipur. For FY2014, taking into account that the statistics from AAI were only disclosed from June 2014 onwards, AAI recorded a load factor of 80% with a total of 0.35 million passengers carried.