AirAsia X Ready to Partner with Investors, Says its CEO

28th Jul 2015

Speaking today about the potential partnership with another airline, chief executive officer of AirAsia X Benyamin Ismail said that the Malaysian carrier is ready for it, but only if it is happy with the price offered.

According to Mr. Benyamin, a number of international airlines, businesses and partners are already queuing up and showing interest in AirAsia X, but the airline still hasn’t found the right partner.

Regarding this, Benyamin said:

At the moment we are not closing it (the door). It helps in terms of the profile of the company, assuming there is a big carrier wanting to team up with us.

Several reports say that AirAsia X has become interesting to at least two large international airlines, both of which are looking to get a stake in it.

Ringgit Dropping Will Not Affect AirAsia X

Asked if the weakening ringgit will affect the company, Benyamin explained this didn’t have any significant impact on AirAsia X’s topline. According to Benyamin, 45 per cent of AirAsia X’s revenue is in Australian dollars, 30 per cent is in ringgit and 20 per cent is in US dollars.

Benyamin said:                              

We manage it very well, so the impact is not as much as what people think it is. We are on track on our revamped business plan. We have cut capacity on routes where we were not performing due to irrational competition.

AirAsia X Adds Kuala Lumpur-Sapporo from 1^st October

Speaking about routes, AirAsia X CEO also took time to announce a new route that the long haul carrier will start from 1^st October this year, Kuala Lumpur-Sapporo, Japan.

In order to promote the service, the Malaysian airline is offering one-way fares at RM99 until 2^nd August this year. These tickets can be used from 31^st October, 2015 until 31^st August, 2016.

Flights to Sapporo will take off from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Tuesdays. Thursdays and weekends at 11:35 p.m. and will land in Sapporo the following day at 8:10 in the morning.

Flights from Sapporo will leave on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 9:20 a.m. and will arrive at 5:00 p.m. at KLIA.