AirAsia deputy CEO Kamarudin Meranun told Emirates Business that the company has been in negotiations with the government and private investors in Abu Dhabi on a possible investment in the Malaysian based low cost carrier.
“We are already in negotiations with some investors, including from the government, encouraging them to invest in AirAsia,” said Meranun. “But it is premature to elaborate further at present. These discussions are not confined to Abu Dhabi. There are other parties in the region that have shown interest and we will negotiate with them. The interest from Abu Dhabi, however, was very strong,”
AirAsia’s long haul arm AirAsia X started five times weekly services form Kuala Lumpur to Abu Dhabi on November 23, which it aims to build into a virtual hub with fifth-freedom services to Europe and elsewhere. Reports also claim that AirAsia X, which has a separate shareholder structure to AirAsia, may also be listed on the Dubai or Abu Dhabi stock exchanges.
