AirAsia, AirAsia X And MAS Collaboration Important, Says AirAsia X Chairman

PETALING JAYA (Selangor, Malaysia), May 11 (Bernama) -- All airlines in the country must be able to face challenges when the Asean open sky policy comes into force in 2015 and therefore, collaboration efforts between AirAsia, AirAsia X and Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is important, says AirAsia X Chairman Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz. "If airlines do not strengthen now, through what ever way, there will be problems. This is why AirAsia and AirAsia X is willing to continue looking at possible collaboration with MAS," she said. She emphasised that the collaboration had nothing to do with the share-swap. "It is about cutting cost so that we can pass the efficiencies to consumers. We have agreed at the board level to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to continue pursuing this collaboration as long as it does not violate any anti-trust law globally and bring benefits to us," she told a press conference after the Malaysian National Co-operative Movement (Angkasa)'s 41st celebration. Following the reversal of the share swap deal, AirAsia, AirAsia X Sdn Bhd and MAS, have entered into a supplemental collaboration agreement (SA) to explore areas of mutual-need to realise savings and boost efficiencies. The SA would focus on specific areas of collaboration while continue to comply with all relevant anti-trust laws. Under the SA, the airlines have identified key areas for collaboration, which would result in efficiencies and cost savings, which among others, includes procurement, aircraft component repairs, training initiatives and technical and operational efficiency. Additionally, the airlines will also continue working to further identify and evaluate opportunities to collaborate on a broad range of areas both at operational and strategic levels. To push forward with the collaboration initiative, the three parties also signed a MOU to cooperate on two initial areas, joint procurement and aircraft component maintenance, support and repair services. -- BERNAMA