AirAsia 1H2015 results: the region’s leading LCC regroups for the long run, reining in expansion

AirAsia is slowing expansion as it attempts to turn around struggling affiliates and restore profitability. Six of the eight AirAsia-branded carriers were unprofitable in 1H2015 with only the long established short-haul carriers in Malaysia and Thailand in the black.

Passenger traffic across the AirAsia family grew by only 6% in 1H2015 to 26.5 million. 2015 will almost certainly see the slowest annual traffic growth in AirAsia's 14-year history.

2015 will also mark the first year AirAsia will shrink its fleet. AirAsia now plans to end 2015 with 193 aircraft, including 166 A320s and 27 A330-300s, compared to 197 aircraft at the beginning of the year. Extremely modest growth is now planned for the next three years, resulting in a fleet of 208 aircraft (177 A320s and 31 A330s) at the end of 2018.