Malaysia’s AirAsia aims to be ‘more than an airline’ as coronavirus cripples aviation
- The struggling carrier recorded a net loss of US$590 million in the October to December quarter last year
- To reverse its fortunes, it wants to tap into its digital audience to launch a ‘super app’ that offers air taxi and delivery services
As the pandemic’s true extent became apparent last May, the Malaysia-based regional budget carrier launched a food delivery business in Kuala Lumpur that gained traction among citizens who were at the time under a strict partial lockdown.
Also in the works, according to recent interviews by Fernandes, are plans for offshoots in ride-hailing fresh grocery delivery air taxis, and drone delivery services.
Fernandes has long touted AirAsia’s large digital customer base that he hoped would make it a “super app” much in the mould of regional behemoth Grab.
Last week, Bloomberg reported that the company plans to raise as much as US$300 million to expand the airline’s digital business arm, AirAsia Digital.
In an interview with The Edge Malaysia published on April 4, Fernandes said his hope was to become “the best delivery guy in town”.
