 "Ratan N Tata and S Ramadorai, Non-Executive Chairman AirAsia India with airhostesses at the unveiling of AirAsia's 4th aircraft with JRD Tata Livery at Shamshabad Airport near Hyderabad")
AirAsia India loss widened 23% to Rs 65 crore in September-end quarter over the same period last year. In the same quarter last year the airline had made a loss of Rs 52 crore.
Revenue doubled to Rs 131 crore as against Rs 61 crore in same quarter last year with increase in aircraft and addition of new routes. In winter schedule it added flights between Delhi-Goa and Delhi-Guwahati.
However unlike its peers the airline was unable to derive substantial benefit of lower fuel costs and made an operating loss of Rs 61 crore as against Rs 50 crore in same quarter last fiscal.
AirAsia India commenced operations last June and has six Airbus A320 aircraft. In October it had a market share of 2.1%.
“Our operations in India are geared to grow further after a year in service as we believe our low fares and excellent product appeals to travellers in India who remain underserved by air travel,” AirAsia group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes said in a statement.
The airline management had earlier in the year expressed optimism carrier is close to breaking even.
Load factor remains stable at 76% amid heightened competition by other players while total passengers carried increased to 4.1 lakh passengers in June-September quarter.
In the September-end quarter SpiceJet and Jet Airways made a profit of Rs 23.8 crore and Rs 83 crore respectively.
