AirAsia Group sees green shoots, upbeat on recovery

As the domestic travel and tourism industry slowly bounces back, low-cost airline AirAsia says it is experiencing green shoots for a promising recovery after being severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. AirAsia.com CEO Karen Chan said although the journey might be tough, the airline company would ramp up efforts accordingly to attract more customers whilst realigning its business priorities from travel to businesses related to local consumption. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, AirAsia has launched businesses such as Ourshop, an e-commerce marketplace; Ourfarm, an e-commerce platform to help connect farmers directly with businesses; as well as Ourfood, a seamless, fuss-free and affordable solution for customers and restaurateurs. "Given the new reality we are all facing, AirAsia.com’s top priority is to maintain a growth trajectory amidst a slowdown in the economy. "Domestic travel will be the key driver of sales until borders reopen and quarantine restrictions are relaxed. This, in turn, is a great opportunity for AirAsia.com given that the airline holds 73% of Malaysia's market share, ” she said. AirAsia has survived for 18 years in a hyper-competitive industry and became the leader of the low-cost carrier segment by providing the best prices, best ASEAN connectivity and best customer experience, she noted.<br/>