AirAsia sees more layoffs if April domestic flights stay grounded

AirAsia is ready to furlough more workers unless domestic coronavirus travel curbs end next month, even as the company speeds expansion of its non-airlines business to fill an earnings hole, top executives said. The airline founded by local tycoon Tony Fernandes and its budget model have been hammered by the drop in international air travel, while movement restrictions between states in Malaysia are also choking revenue. AirAsia Group President Bo Lingam said that it is critical for internal routes to reopen. "We would prefer [this] as soon as possible, but I think the green states can be opened first, and we would appreciate if it's by next month," he said, referring to the end of April. Green states are those with lower new COVID-19 cases, namely Melaka, Pahang, Terengganu, Sabah and the federal territories of Putrajaya and Labuan. The Malaysian government has not said when it will reopen domestic travel nationwide despite pressure from lobby groups, including hotels, tour operators and airlines.<br/>