Low-cost carrier AirAsia (AK, Kuala Lumpur International) is considering establishing sister carriers in Singapore and Viet Nam, according to a report in the Malaysian business weekly The Edge.
Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes told the publication that he wants to see airlines based in these markets as part of the group. He has previously raised the prospects of new AirAsia-branded carriers in the region but has never specified where.
Fernandes did not provide a timeline for any launch or advise how far advanced the plans were. However, he did say the immediate strategy was to have an airline based in those markets, even though the markets are already well-served by local low-cost carriers, with Singapore home to Scoot and Jetstar Asia, while Viet Nam hosts LLCs such as VietJetAir, Vietravel Airlines, and Pacific Airlines. AirAsia Vietnam was a joint venture between the pan-Asian carrier and Hai Au Aviation (HAI, Hanoi Noi Bai International) but never progressed beyond the drawing board. It was eventually dissolved in 2019.
Capital A also has interests in Indonesia AirAsia, AirAsia Philippines, and Thai AirAsia. A planned launch of AirAsia Cambodia last year did not happen and the earliest start date is now reported to be mid-2024. Capital A sold its stake in AirAsia India in late 2022.
