AirAsia has reported a strong set of financial results for the first quarter of 2013, boosted by its Thai and Indonesian subsidiaries.
Indonesia AirAsia achieved a 104% jump in operating profits during the three-month period, to IDR41.97 billion (US$4.3m), following a 34% rise in revenues, to IDR1.22 trillion. AirAsia’s Indonesian passenger traffic climbed 35% to 1.72m. Thai AirAsia meanwhile, saw its operating profits surge 48% to THB931.9 (US$31.2m), on a 24% rise in revenues, to THB6.03bn. The airline carried 2.56m passengers in the quarter, up 20% compared to Q1 2012.
AirAsia Bhd, the original Malaysia-based low-cost carrier, saw operating profits climb 6% to MYR254.9m (US$84.3m) and revenues rise 11% to MYR1.3bn. Passenger traffic climbed 7% to 5.17m.
“It has been a good start for 2013,” said AirAsia’s Group CEO, Tony Fernandes. “There was a big structural change in 2012 with the set-up of regional functions which was necessary as the group gets bigger. Now, everything is pretty much in place and everyone is in full-gear mode to take on the second decade head on. 2013 is the start of new era for the AirAsia Group.”
The low-cost carrier group also operates Philippines AirAsia, which currently has a fleet of two aircraft, and AirAsia Japan with four jets. It is also planning to launch a new Indian subsidiary later this year.
