AirAsia settles over 90% of passenger refunds

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia has settled over 90% of passenger refunds, despite the financial difficulties faced by the airline industry which was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is not expected to face a big hurdle to settle more in a few months, Capital A Bhd (formerly known as AirAsia Group Bhd) chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said.

Bernama quoted him as saying that this is considered a remarkable achievement because it was done without any financial support from the government and the huge amount involved compared to other airlines as AirAsia was flying about 90 million people pre-Covid-19 period.

“I clearly have to define between AirAsia X and AirAsia. AirAsia had handled over 90% of refunds and it was not an issue as we had been transparent.

“Our guests understood that we have been supportive although there had been some noise and the press making an issue out of it,” he told reporters at the virtual launch of airasia Super App’s new Super+ plan yesterday.

He said the airline is getting a strong backing as it has performed beyond expectations in most domestic markets.

“Refunds will be coming as flights resume in Malaysia probably in a couple of months and the Philippines.” he said.

He said AirAsia X’s guests would also be getting vouchers when the airline starts flying as a gesture of fairness to the low-cost long haul carrier.

On the Super+ plan, Fernandes said it is the first pass that combined flights and food delivery for a year in a single package, which he described as their equivalent to Amazon Prime and Netflix, and superseded all unlimited passes that were introduced earlier.