No talks with govt on Malaysia Airlines taking over AirAsia’s local routes, says MAG

Malaysia Aviation Group president and group chief executive officer Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar speaks to the media after attending the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines’ 70th Assembly of Presidents in Kuala Lumpur on November 13, 2026. — Bernama pic

First Published: Friday, 13 Nov 2026 1:19 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 — Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) has not held any official discussions with the government on absorbing AirAsia Bhd’s domestic market share or taking over its routes.

“There’s no discussion about that,” MAG president and group chief executive officer Captain Nasaruddin A Bakar told reporters on the sidelines of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) 70th Assembly of Presidents (AP70) here today.

As the national carrier, Malaysia Airlines has a responsibility to ensure connectivity within the country and internationally, he said.

Captain Nasaruddin clarified that his reference to a level playing field concerned airport charges imposed on airlines using the same infrastructure, rather than financial assistance.

He said all airlines operating from the same airport facilities should be subject to similar charges to ensure fair competition.

“For example, if the passenger service charge at an airport is RM20, Airline A has to pay RM20, and Airline B also has to pay RM20, since both are using the same infrastructure,” he said.

Charges could differ depending on the infrastructure used, such as between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, but airlines using the same facilities should be treated equally.

“What I mean is that if airlines have to pay certain charges, all other airlines using the same infrastructure must also pay those charges,” he said. — Bernama