COVID-19: AirAsia resumes flights in Malaysia and to 3 Asean nations, passengers must wear face masks

Budget airline AirAsia resumed selected domestic flights in Malaysia today (29 April), and will fly again to Thailand on 1 May, Indonesia on 7 May and the Philippines on 16 May amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

AirAsia will increase gradually flights to other destinations around the region once governments lift borders and travel restrictions, according to its press release.

Executive Chairman of AirAsia Group, Datuk Kamarudin Meranun said AirAsia is working with all relevant regulators, local governments, civil aviation and health authorities on the service resumption. The airline is adhering to guidance from the World Health Organisation and International Civil Aviation Organisation to ensure the highest standards of compliance for all flights in its network.

Kamarudin added, “We will require guests to wear a mask and practise universally recommended protective precautionary measures including social distancing and observing high personal hygiene. All our aircraft, which are fitted with hospital-standard High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, will also be sent for a thorough disinfection every night stop.”

In addition, AirAsia is also implementing a range of cost-cutting measures and expects to yield cost reduction of 30 per cent in 2020.

“Further measures in managing and containing cost include both the management and senior employees of AirAsia Group volunteering a salary sacrifice, re-negotiating contracts and deferring all non-essential expenditures,” Kamarudin said.

The company will not take in any new aircraft deliveries this year, he added. It plans to end 2020 with 242 aircraft, or a net reduction of one aircraft compared with last year.

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