The target indicates a slight delay from his earlier
forecast of putting all 204 of its fleet back in service by August.
“We’ll never have 204 (planes fully operating) because we
always have some planes (in) maintenance…For me to get back to 190 planes
operational is pre-COVID,” Fernandes told Reuters on the sidelines of the
Forbes Global CEO conference in Singapore.
He said AirAsia’s operating level stood at between 50% and
60% in the first half and it was expected to have about 190 planes back in
service by the final quarter of this year.
Fernandes did not elaborate on the delay, but said drivers
for capacity growth included improving demand from migrating workforce,
tourism, students and connecting travellers.