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PETALING JAYA: Low-cost carrier AirAsia Bhd has dismissed a report that AirAsia Japan intends to shut down its operations there due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
An AirAsia spokesperson said the airline had nothing to announce at this time, adding that it does not comment on speculation.
“We have a strict policy of not commenting on rumors or speculation. There is nothing to announce at this time, ”the spokesperson told FMT.
This follows a Bloomberg report earlier today, which quotes the Yomiuri newspaper as saying that AirAsia Japan had informed the relevant authorities that it intends to stop its operations there.
This came amid reports in mid-September that AirAsia Japan planned to suspend all flights from October 1 to October 24 due to lower-than-expected demand as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes denied this, saying there were no “planned” suspensions, although the airline was evaluating its operations in Japan.
Fernandes said the airline will continue to focus on Asean and has no plans to shut down its operations in Japan.
“Not at the moment,” he said. “We never know what is going to happen (in the future).”
Fernandes had previously said that AirAsia expected to raise up to RM2.5 billion from bank and investor loans by the end of the year.
He had also said that the airline was reviewing its operations in Japan, the smallest of its foreign branches, as it seeks to weather the Covid-19 pandemic.
