In the third quarter of 2020 (3Q20), total passengers transported by AirAsia Group Bhd decreased from 13 million in the same quarter last year by 85 percent to 1,91 million.

The load factor for the group was reduced by 18% (ppt.) to 66% year-on-year, according to the Airline Group in a statement, against the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The low-cost carrier reported monthly that its main operational parameters had increased by 36 percent, 79 and 65 percent in September, compared to July, with higher passengers being registered in Malaysia, India, and Thailand.

It said the load factor for the group increased by 7.0 ppts in September compared to July.

“These improvements highlight a strong upward rebound trend for air travel demand across key markets for the group,” it said.

In September, AirAsia Malaysia operated at 52 percent of its domestic capacity compared with 40 percent in July after the second quarter, with reduced travel restrictions.

AirAsia Malaysia reached a load factor of 68 percent when transporting nearly 1.8 million passengers in the quarter.

While in October, Air Asia Malaysia strives to recover to 60% of its pre-COVID domestic potential by the fourth quarter, due to the Government's conditional control order in the pattern models.

The load factor for AirAsia Indonesia was reduced by 36 ppts to 49% in the 3Q20, and for the reviewed quarter Air Asia Philippines operated at just 5% of last year's capacity.