Discussions are underway but agreements can still fall through, CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes told state-owned newspaper Bernama.
“I have long wanted to operate in Vietnam. As an ASEAN airline, it makes sense to be in one of the region’s most promising markets,” he said.
 |
|
Airplanes of AirAsia, a Malaysian low-cost airline, has remained stationed at Chubu Centrair International Airport in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture on Sept. 30, 2020. Photo by The Yomiuri Shimbun via AFP |
In addition to Vietnam, AirAsia is holding preliminary talks in Laos and Brunei, leaving Myanmar and Singapore as the only ASEAN markets where it has no presence.
On Singapore, Fernandes said, “I have always fought for operations in Singapore; however, I think we have given up on the plan.”
He reiterated his goal to expand AirAsia’s footprint throughout ASEAN before retiring, saying, “My dream before I leave this job is to be in as many ASEAN countries as possible. I am very keen on Vietnam.”
AirAsia, operating under investment holding company Capital A, has air operator certificates to operate in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
Although no specifics have been revealed, in August, representatives from T&T Group and Capital A met with leaders of Quang Tri Province in central Vietnam.
During the meeting, the two companies proposed an aerospace industrial complex and airport urban area in the province.
T&T Group, with interests in property, agriculture and infrastructure, aims to build a comprehensive aviation ecosystem encompassing infrastructure, logistics, and airline operations.
The enterprise has also been building Quang Tri Airport since mid-last year with a total investment of over VND5.8 trillion (US$220 million).
AirAsia operates international flights to Vietnam from several regional countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia.
The airline has aspired to enter the Vietnamese domestic aviation market for 20 years, but in its four partnerships, none yielded success.
The most recent attempt was in 2019 when AirAsia and local company Hai Au ended and released all obligations related to their joint venture agreement in Vietnam.
Previously, AirAsia also sought agreements with Pacific Airlines, Vinashin, and Vietjet.
