AirAsia rules out involvement with ailing Malaysia Airlines

AirAsia chief Tony Fernandes has ruled out any involvement with Malaysia’s ailing national airline, which is at risk of being sold or shut down, saying the profitable budget airline he co-founded is focused on growing organically and speeding up its push to become a digital enterprise. Fernandes – group CEO of Southeast Asia’s largest budget carrier, which flew some 80 million passengers last year – was asked about Malaysia Airlines (MAS) as PM Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday said he was considering four proposals to resuscitate the carrier. These were mostly from local companies, who offered to either buy a stake in the flag carrier or to manage it, Mahathir said. Said Fernandes: “I am not sure how many languages I have to say it in. I am on this big journey of transforming AirAsia. AirAsia is focused on AirAsia.” But the 55-year-old welcomed MAS’ recent move to expand its cooperation with Singapore Airlines (SIA), saying the expanded partnership would in turn improve AirAsia. “As long as the competition is fair competition then I have got to be better,” Fernandes explained. “Competition is what makes us better. I don’t want anyone or anything to be blocked from doing a decent business, saving jobs or creating jobs.” AirAsia has frequently been suggested as a credible option to revive MAS in a takeover deal, after a less-than-stellar reaction to the carrier’s plans to deepen ties with the national airline of its neighbour and arch-rival, Singapore.<br/>