4-9-2023 (JAKARTA) Capital A Berhad, the parent company of AirAsia Indonesia, has announced plans to significantly expand its fleet in Indonesia over the next three years in order to tap into the growing tourism market post-COVID-19. Tony Fernandes, the CEO of Capital A, revealed on Monday that the airline aims to increase its current fleet of around 28 planes to 75 by 2026, with a focus on acquiring more wide-body aircraft.
Fernandes expressed his excitement about the company’s post-pandemic goals, emphasizing the importance of rapidly expanding the fleet as travel demand gradually returns to pre-pandemic levels. He highlighted the company’s intention to enhance direct connectivity and open up new routes, particularly beyond the popular tourist destination of Bali, in line with Indonesia’s plans to develop other tourism destinations.
AirAsia Group Bhd, based in Malaysia, underwent a name change to Capital A Berhad last year to reflect its expanding portfolio of businesses beyond the core budget airline. Fernandes, who has been the CEO of the parent company since 2018, stepped down as AirAsia X CEO in October 2022.
When asked about projected passenger growth, Fernandes expressed optimism, stating that they anticipate a potential increase of around 300% from current levels. With larger planes and increased capacity, the growth prospects appear promising.
According to the company’s website, AirAsia Indonesia carried over 1.5 million passengers in the last quarter and operated 33 domestic and international routes as of the end of last year.
Indonesia’s tourism industry has experienced a strong rebound following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions this year. The country’s tourism ministry has revised its target for foreign arrivals in 2023, aiming to welcome 8.5 million visitors, up from the initial goal of 7.4 million.
