AirAsia X to be renamed AirAsia from Jan 19

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia X Bhd will be renamed AirAsia from Jan 19 as low-cost carrier AirAsia reaches the final stages of its restructuring to consolidate all aviation businesses under a single entity, according to its founder Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.

“AirAsia will be one airline group and one brand,” Fernandes said in a Linkedin post on Tuesday. AirAsia X — which currently only operates long-haul AirAsia flights — is currently in the midst of completing its RM6.8bil acquisition of short-haul aviation businesses from sister company Capital A Bhd.

Capital A will also apply to be removed from its financially distressed classification on the same day, Fernandes said. Capital A has been classified as PN17, a category for financially distressed companies established by Bursa Malaysia since the pandemic.

Following the disposal of the airline business, Capital A will be a holding company for the group’s non-aviation businesses.

AirAsia is finalising new aircraft orders, which will reduce its costs and increase its margin, Fernandes said. The founder is aiming for a 30% margin on earnings before taxes, depreciation, and amortisation, and aims to “double the stock price very soon”. - Bloomberg