Long-haul low-cost carrier AirAsia X carried only 2,291 passengers during the three months ended 30 June.
By comparison, the Malaysian carrier had flown nearly 1.46 million passengers in the same period of 2019.
The average load factor on AirAsia X flights in this year’s second quarter was just 38%, down from 80% a year.
Capacity, as measured in available seat-kilometres, was shrunk some 99.6%, and traffic in revenue passenger-kilometres was down 99.8%.
“The company had announced the temporary hibernation of its fleet towards the end of the first quarter of 2020,” says AirAsia X. “To date, the hibernation remains in place as international borders at our destinations remain closed.”
It adds: “During 2Q20, the company maintained only minimal operations in supporting repatriation of travellers as well as freight and cargo services. The total number of sectors flown on charter and cargo basis totalled up to 146 during the period.
”AirAsia X Thailand reported a PLF [passenger load factor] of 82% in 2Q20, as seat capacity was recorded at 377, and passengers carried totalled up to 309 during the quarter. Similarly with AirAsia X Malaysia, our Thai associate announced the hibernation of its fleet earlier this year, and remains in hibernation to date.”
AirAsia X Malaysia’s fleet stood at 24 A330s while AirAsia X Thailand’s remained unchanged at 14 A330s during the quarter, says AirAsia X. The group fleet totalled 40 A330s, including two aircraft with AirAsia X Indonesia, at which operations have been suspended since 2019.
