REGIONAL BUDGET HUB
Looking ahead, Mr Fernandes said AirAsia hopes to build a low-cost airline hub in the region to connect passengers to more places via short-haul flights.
“We want to build a Dubai in Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok,” he said, referring to the Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s most connected gateway for international travel.
He acknowledged that Southeast Asia has major global hubs such as Singapore’s Changi Airport, but said they largely serve premium flyers.
“No one’s ever built a low-cost airline hub. My goal is to allow people to fly much further through a short-haul, narrow-body plane strategy. You can fly from one destination, connect, and go to another destination,” he added.
Mr Fernandes said AirAsia has yet to fully emerge from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. They company has been restructuring its plane order book.
He said he hopes to complete the restructuring process within the next two months, following which he expects to make an official announcement on COMAC jet acquisitions.
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