Hanoi (VNA) – Malaysian Minister of InternationalTrade and Industry Azmin Ali has said the merger of national flag carrierMalaysia Airlines and budget airline AirAsia is one of the options to save them as theCOVID-19 has battered the aviation industry.
In aninterview granted to Reuters on April 17, Azmin said the Malaysian governmentwill look at all options to help the country’s airline industry.
Sources saidAirAsia and Japan Airlines had earlier shown interest in buying a stake inMalaysia Airlines. Privately-held Malaysian group Golden Skies Ventures madea 2.5 billion USD offer to fully take over the holding company of MalaysiaAirlines this month.
AirAsia said last week that ithad no incoming revenue and 96 percent of its fleet was grounded, havingsuspended most of its flights since March.
The airlinesaid it plans to resume domestic flights starting with Malaysia on April 29,Thailand and the Philippines on May 1, India on May 4 and Indonesia on May 7./.