AirAsia X records 9pc YoY passenger growth in 1Q2026
Sepang : AirAsia X Berhad ("the Group") has announced its preliminary operating statistics for the First Quarter of 2026 ("1Q2026"). This represents the inaugural consolidated report for the Group following the successful acquisition of the AirAsia aviation assets, bringing together all AirAsia branded airlines under a single listed entity.
The Consolidated Air Operating Certificates ("AOCs"), comprising AirAsia Malaysia, AirAsia Thailand, AirAsia Indonesia, AirAsia Philippines, AirAsia Cambodia, and AirAsia X Malaysia, demonstrated significant operational synergy, carrying approximately 18.9 million passengers during the quarter, up by 9 percent year-on-year ("YoY"). This performance indicates sustained demand across the network as passenger growth remains aligned with a 10 percent YoY increase in capacity to 22.1 million seats. The Consolidated AOCs have now recovered capacity to 98 percent of pre-pandemic levels, with a robust load factor of 85 percent.
A key driver of the performance was the surge in domestic demand, which saw double-digit YoY growth in both passengers carried and capacity across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. On the international front, the Group's focus on North Asia maintained solid momentum. Major routes to China from both Malaysia and Thailand performed well, with load factors for these sectors recorded at 85% for the quarter. The Group continues to leverage its dominant position in the China-Asean travel corridor, capturing consistent demand across key primary and secondary cities.
The Group showed remarkable operational agility in March 2026, the first month following the onset of heightened geopolitical tension and increasing jet fuel prices. In March alone, the Consolidated AOCs carried 6.3 million passengers, a 19 percent YoY increase which surpassed the 15 percent YoY increase in capacity. This performance was driven by the festive period, where the Group's commitment to providing the best value to guests allowed it to capture a significant growth in regional travel.
