This gave AAX an overall passenger load factor (PLF) of 78% for the period, according to a company statement today.

The affiliate airline of the AirAsia Aviation Group said with the reopening of China’s borders, AAX was well poised to accelerate its recovery to pre-Covid-19 levels.

“By the end of December 2022, AirAsia X was operating flights to 13 destinations, including Seoul and New Delhi, two of its most popular destinations that were launched in the prior quarter,” it said.

AAX has been flying three times more from October to December 2022 compared to the preceding quarter. From only 291 flights flown in Q5, it surged by 296% to 1,152 flights in Q6 as travel recovery coincided with the peak travelling season.

The carrier also carried 337,638 passengers in Q6 2022 (Oct-Dec 2022) compared to the preceding quarter (Q5, July-Sept) which was 324% less at 79,557.

Available seats per kilometre (ASK) stood at 1.7 million as more aircraft returned to the skies with eyes on the most popular routes as priority.

For the quarter under review, AAX said it launched flights to Melbourne, Perth, Tokyo-Haneda, Sapporo, Taipei, Jeddah, Bali-Denpasar, and a new Sydney-Auckland route.

In addition, frequencies increased to a few routes namely, Seoul, Sydney, Sydney-Auckland, Melbourne, Perth, and Sapporo.

Its associate, AirAsia X Thailand, carried 212,523 passengers in Q6, as more aircraft returned to service during the quarter, with additional frequencies set in motion to several selected routes to cater to the year-end peak travel season.

During the same quarter, AirAsia X Thailand launched flights to Osaka and Sapporo, and Sydney and Melbourne in Australia.

The total fleet size for AirAsia X stood at 14 A330s as at the end of December 2022, with seven aircraft activated and operational.

“AirAsia X Thailand’s fleet size was eight A330s as at the end of December 2022, with five aircraft activated and operational,” it added.