PUTRAJAYA: The Transport Ministry has not held any meeting with low-cost carrier AirAsia in the past two to three weeks, despite talk of discussions with Putrajaya over possible support, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Loke also said no agreement had been reached on the matter.
“We have not had any recent meetings with AirAsia. As far as the ministry is concerned, they may have had discussions with the Finance Ministry.
“This is because airlines do have regular meetings with the government. However, in the past two to three weeks, there has been no meeting with AirAsia and no agreement has been reached,” he said at a press conference on Monday (Oct 12).
Loke was responding to a question about reports that AirAsia had met representatives from the Finance Ministry and Transport Ministry to discuss possible government assistance amid growing concerns about the airline’s financial health following a spike in jet fuel prices.
Fernandes had previously denied claims that the low-cost carrier was relying on government assistance to weather its financial difficulties, insisting that there had been no discussions with Putrajaya about a rescue or bailout.
He had said AirAsia remained confident in its liquidity position and was instead pursuing commercial financing, including debt refinancing, as it navigated sharply higher jet fuel prices and geopolitical uncertainty.
