{"url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-13/malaysia-airlines-no-airasia-takeover-talks","markdown_url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-13/malaysia-airlines-no-airasia-takeover-talks.md","title":"Malaysia Airlines Denies Talks to Take AirAsia Routes","headline":"Malaysia Airlines Says No Government Talks on Absorbing AirAsia's Domestic Routes or Aircraft","description":"Malaysia Airlines says it has held no talks with the government about absorbing AirAsia's domestic routes or aircraft.","section":"Business","published_at":"2026-11-13T04:39:56+00:00","modified_at":"2026-11-13T04:39:56+00:00","author":"News Desk","key_takeaways":["Malaysia Airlines CEO Captain Nasaruddin A Bakar said the carrier received no official request and held no discussion about taking over AirAsia's domestic market share or aircraft.","AirAsia Group's net loss widened to RM527.16 million in the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, and the airline cut seat capacity by 20% to 25% year-on-year in the following quarter.","AirAsia Group adviser Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said the airline has more than RM1 billion in cash and had not sought a government bailout."],"companies":[{"name":"Malaysia Airlines","is_primary":true,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0000v59/malaysia-airlines","website":"https://www.malaysiaairlines.com/ph/en.html"},{"name":"Air Asia","is_primary":false,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0002t2x/air-asia","website":"http://airasia.com"}],"source":{"publisher":"The Edge Malaysia","title":"Malaysia Airlines: No talks with govt taking over AirAsia’s routes or aircraft","url":"https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/825605"},"other_sources":[],"tags":["Business","Malaysia Airlines","Air Asia"],"body_markdown":"[Malaysia Airlines](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0000v59/malaysia-airlines) has held no discussions with the government about absorbing AirAsia's domestic routes or taking over its aircraft, its president and group chief executive said on November 13. [The Edge Malaysia](https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/825605) reported that Captain Nasaruddin A Bakar said there was no official request or discussion, though the national carrier must ensure connectivity.\n\n## Nasaruddin Denies AirAsia Absorption Request\n\nSpeaking to reporters at the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines event, Nasaruddin said: \"We got no official request (from the government) and no official discussion. There's also no discussion to take its aircraft.\" He added that as a national carrier, Malaysia Airlines has to ensure connectivity within the country and outside it.\n\nReuters reported in mid-September that the government had approached Malaysia Airlines and Batik [Air](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0002t2x/air-asia) to assess whether they could absorb AirAsia's domestic market share amid financial pressures on the budget carrier, which Reuters said had been hit by soaring jet fuel costs due to the Iran war. Citing sources, Reuters said both airlines had indicated willingness to expand organically by taking over AirAsia's routes and passengers rather than acquiring its entire business.\n\nAirAsia Group adviser Tan Sri Tony Fernandes has dismissed concerns over the airline's financial position, saying operations remain sustainable with more than RM1 billion in cash and that it had not sought a government bailout. AirAsia Group's net loss widened to RM527.16 million in the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, prompting it to cut seat capacity by 20% to 25% year-on-year in the subsequent quarter.\n\n## Malaysia Airlines' China Network and Group Revenue\n\nMalaysia Airlines is the Malaysian national carrier operating as a oneworld Alliance full-service airline from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, serving more than 53 destinations under state-owned parent Malaysia Aviation Group, according to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data). The same records show the parent reported annual revenue of RM14.5 billion in 2025, up 6% year-on-year, and a net profit of RM137 million for 2025, more than doubling from RM54 million in 2024. In July 2026 the airline expanded its China network with direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Shenzhen, which began on July 1, and Changsha, which began on July 8, bringing its total China destinations to nine.\n\n## Earlier Calls for a Level Playing Field\n\nOn November 12, Nasaruddin said any financial aid to struggling carriers such as AirAsia should be available to all airlines to keep competition fair, Bloomberg reported from the Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines' annual meeting in Kuala Lumpur. On November 11, Skift reported that Malaysia Airlines had overtaken AirAsia on Malaysia-India routes, scheduling 1.57 million seats in 2026 versus AirAsia and AirAsia X's combined 1.42 million, as AirAsia cut nearly 378,000 seats, or 21%, amid high fuel costs.\n\n## What Comes Next for Malaysia Airlines\n\nMalaysia Airlines will resume scheduled flights to and from Jeddah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia effective October 18, after a safety review, EIN Presswire reported on October 17.\n","publisher":{"name":"News for Agent","url":"https://newsforagent.com"}}