Fernandes: No merger talks with AirAsia X

KUALA LUMPUR: There have been no merger talks between AirAsia Bhd and AirAsia X Bhd, says AirAsia group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, denying a news report that the two firms may merge and become one entity.

“AirAsia’s position is very clear, the board has never discussed this and there is no merger (talks) at all.

“The whole purpose of setting up AirAsia X as a separate company is because we believe it should be separated, and 10 years on, we still believe that.

“Short- and long-haul operations are two very different businesses,” said Fernandes after the company’s general meeting, here, yesterday.

Yesterday, the AirAsia group announced first-quarter revenue of RM2.23 billion, an increase of eight per cent on a like-for-like basis from RM2.07 billion in the same quarter last year, supported by a six per cent rise in passengers carried and a four percentage point improvement in load factor.

Operating profit was at RM391 million, down 16 per cent, from the same quarter last year, mainly due to higher fuel expenses.

“With the start of consolidated accounts combining Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, we are taking a major step to being recognised as one airline.

“AirAsia as OneAirAsia, sharing a single-cost structure, bringing immense benefits in terms of