AirAsia Japan To Relaunch In October

SEPANG (Selangor, Malaysia), May 30 (Bernama) -- AirAsia is optimistic of resuming its operations in Japan this October, said Group Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes. "We (AirAsia) don't control the regulators but AirAsia Japan is looking good and really feeling good," he told reporters after AirAsia's annual general meeting here Monday. AirAsia entered the Japanese market in 2012 in a tie-up with All Nippon Airways but the project ended in 2013 following a dispute over business practices. However, after securing its Air Operator's Certificate early this year, AirAsia officially announced that it would re-commence operations in Japan. On another note, Fernandes said he can now travel to India without a visa now that he has obtained the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status. "OCI does not make any difference to ownership or whatever as I can't buy any properties in India but OCI saves me a lot of pages in my passport," he said. The OCI scheme was introduced in August 2005 and OCI cards are given to people who have citizenship in other countries but have Indian origin roots. --BERNAMA