MAG says no government talks on taking over AirAsia domestic routes
The group’s chief executive also clarified that his call for equal treatment concerned airport charges, not financial assistance.
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) has had no formal talks with the government about Malaysia Airlines assuming AirAsia Bhd’s domestic routes or market share, its president and group chief executive officer, Captain Nasaruddin A Bakar, said on November 13.
Speaking in Kuala Lumpur during the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines’ 70th Assembly of Presidents, Nasaruddin said the national carrier had a duty to maintain connections both within Malaysia and abroad.
He also explained that his remarks about fair competition referred to charges for airport facilities, rather than financial support. Airlines sharing the same infrastructure should face equivalent fees, he said.
To illustrate his point, Nasaruddin said a passenger service charge of RM20 should apply equally to two airlines using the same facilities. Different infrastructure, such as Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, could carry different charges, but operators using identical facilities should receive equal treatment, he added.
