AirAsia co-founder Tony Fernandes met with officials from Malaysia’s finance ministry two weeks ago to discuss potential government support for Southeast Asia’s largest low-cost airline, according to three people with knowledge of the matter.
The talks reflect growing government concerns about the financial health of the country’s largest domestic carrier following a spike in jet fuel prices, the people said.
Discussions centred on the prospect of the government backing AirAsia’s fundraising efforts provided the airline agreed to proposed conditions, which remain under discussion, two of the people said. Details of the proposed conditions could not immediately be determined.
Just because I meet them doesn’t mean we’re talking about financial assistance
Fernandes, speaking for the airline as its co-founder and adviser, said in an exclusive interview on Friday that he had met with officials from Malaysia’s finance and transport ministries during the week starting September 28 at his request.