AirAsia still keen on Japan
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AirAsia is keen to launch a new domestic low-cost carrier in Japan, despite the recent failure of AirAsia Japan.
Speaking with Bloomberg in an interview on 17 January 2014, AirAsia’s group CEO Tony Fernandes said Japan was still a “fantastic market”. His previous venture, AirAsia Japan, ceased operating in September 2013, following differences of opinion with local partner ANA over how to run the carrier.
“Japan is a market we are very bullish on,” Fernandes told Bloomberg in London. He added however, that AirAsia is unlikely to launch domestic operations in neighbouring South Korea.
“I am not sure the South Koreans are ready for a foreign airline,” he said.
AirAsia currently operates airlines in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, with India expected to launch this year. Since the dissolution of AirAsia Japan, ANA has relaunched the venture as Vanilla Air.
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