Ultra-low-cost carrier Volaris anticipates lower coronavirus infections and ongoing strong demand for leisure travel to Mexico will make for a successful summer season. “2022 started with sharply rising fuel prices and a new surge in Covid cases,” the airline’s chief executive Enrique Beltranena says on 27 April. “Strong demand trends remained, however, and we are observing less and less of a disruption in demand from new Covid cases and customers recognizing Volaris’ reliability.” That increased demand allowed Volaris to raise prices in order to offset the rising fuel prices. The Mexico-City-based carrier reports an 80% increase in revenue during the first quarter of 2022, to $567m. In the same three months last year the company had reported $315m in total revenue. However, operating expenses also rose 70% to $598m from $351m, leaving Volaris with a net loss of $49m for the quarter. Volaris transported 7m passengers during the quarter, 64% more than last year. Total capacity in terms of available seat miles (ASMs) increased 50%, the airline says. Its load factor rose to 83.5%, more than five percentage points higher than during the first quarter of 2021.<br/>
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Kuwaiti budget carrier Jazeera Airways has generated a first-quarter net profit of KD3.8m ($12.4m), contrasting with last year’s loss of KD5.2m for the period. It attributes the performance to a sharp increase in passenger numbers as travel restrictions were lifted in Kuwait. Revenues for the three months to 31 March reached KD35.7m, and load factor improved to just over 75%. “Jazeera has focused in the first quarter on expanding its services and capacity in preparation of the launch of new tourist and high-demand destinations during the year,” says chairman Marwan Boodai. These new services include flights to Prague and Vienna from June. Boodai says the return of passenger demand illustrates a “latent and strong appetite” for travel. Jazeera has enhanced its capabilities after being certified as an approved training organisation by Kuwaiti authorities, enabling it to carry out training programmes for pilots and cabin crew. It has also been approved to conduct line maintenance on its aircraft. Jazeera uses a fleet of single-aisle Airbus A320-family jets.<br/>
Lion Group carrier Malindo Air has adopted the branding of the group’s Indonesia full-service unit, Batik Air. The carrier has received a new Air Operators Certificate, allowing it to operate as Batik Air from 28 April 2022, says Malindo. The exercise reflects the group’s ambition to have a common identity for its full service carriers. Malindo says the change will help improve transfers at its Kuala Lumpur International Airport, where it is based. “With the rebranding exercise and the reopening of the borders taking place in the region, we are very excited for the opportunities presented to us for the potential growth of our airline and with the new brand, we will be able to offer fresh and new services,” says chief executive Mushafiz Mustafa Bakri. The rebranding will be undertaken in phases, adds the airline. It also will add an unspecified number of Boeing 737s to its fleet.<br/>