Malaysia aviation outlook Part 2: AirAsia and AirAsia X focus on improving yields as growth slows

Malaysia AirAsia (MAA) and sister long-haul LCC Malaysia AirAsia X (MAAX) are shrinking their fleets in 2015 while adopting a new capacity and pricing strategy. Both carriers are trying to restore yields, which plummeted in late 2013 and 2014 due to intense competition and overcapacity in the Malaysian market.

MAA is still adding some capacity by improving aircraft utilisation levels. But passenger numbers will likely remain flat as the focus on yields results in a reduction in load factor.

Meanwhile MAAX has cut capacity across its scheduled network as part of a restructuring aimed at restoring profitability. MAAX was highly unprofitable in 2014 while MAA was the only profitable airline in Malaysia. MAA was also the only profitable airline among the eight carriers in the AirAsia/AirAsia X portfolio.