AirAsia North Asia Region Office in Hong Kong

[flee 5]

There’s a Chinese saying, ‘A good rest will enable you to take on a longer journey’. Today, Kathleen Tan returns to AirAsia as CEO North Asia, saying, “I feel fully rested, physically and mentally ready, for this next journey.” In this interview with Yeoh Siew Hoon, she talks about her new role, her one-year’s break and why North Asia is the most exciting travel market currently.

 

Today, on June 13, exactly a year after she left AirAsia Expedia as CEO, Kathleen Tan returns to work, this time as CEO North Asia for AirAsia.

“I wanted to make it exactly one year, it’s sweet and memorable for me,” said Tan who took a year’s leave, following her departure from the AirAsia Expedia joint venture company she headed for 30 months.

Her new role will see her based in Hong Kong and leading AirAsia’s corporate and business development strategy for North Asia, a region close to Tan’s heart.

In her early years with AirAsia, she was instrumental in bullding up the group’s network and profile in China, with her strong social media following, and she helped build up Expedia’s businesses in markets such as Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.

More:

http://www.webintravel.com/kathleen-tan-returns-airasia-north-asia-comes/

[JuliusWong 0]

AirAsia is studying a dual listing in Hong Kong, part of plans to become a pan-Asian low-cost airline player as it also moves towards setting up a joint venture in China, according to a media report.

The Malaysia-based group is simultaneously looking for more aircraft to meet strong demand in North Asia and elsewhere, Reuters reported unnamed sources as saying on the eve of the Farnborough Airshow.

Asia's largest low-cost airline group, which already has affiliates across Southeast Asia, aims to form the venture with the backing of a Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE) to help capture traffic from fast-growing secondary and tertiary cities.

AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes referred to the potential dual listing without naming a location and hinted at a potential new aircraft order in remarks posted on his Twitter account on Sunday.

'ANOTHER DUBAI'

Fernandes has indicated he aims to make AirAsia a low-cost giant with one-stop connections mainly from its Malaysian base.

"It is a huge business opportunity: (to) use low-cost to build another Dubai," a person involved in the plans said.

In mid-June, former senior AirAsia executive Kathleen Tan, seen as one of Fernandes' most trusted executives, rejoined the carrier to head its North Asia operations. This included responsibility for building the airline's market and brand in China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

China contributes nearly 40 percent of the group's revenues, but Fernandes said when appointing Tan that there "is still a lot to do in North Asia… an important long-haul market".

For more: http://news.airwise.com/story/airasia-eyes-hk-listing-as-it-expands-north

[flee 5]

Clarification on Article Appearing in Major Newspapers on 12 July 2016

 

We refer to the Article appearing in the major newspapers today in relation to “AirAsia eyes HK listing as it expands in North Asia”.

AirAsia wishes to clarify that:-

1) Dual listing is not an option AirAsia is formally considering at the moment. In any event such an exercise could not be undertaken without the proposal being deliberated by the Board or without prior consideration of the various regulatory and commercial aspects on the matter. None of which has been undertaken thus far.

2) Joint Venture in China: AirAsia does from time to time receive proposals to establish airline joint ventures in various jurisdictions. Currently AirAsia is not pursuing any new joint venture proposals as we continue to focus on launching AirAsia Japan as well as strengthening our existing joint venture airline operations within Asean and India.

As required under the Main Market Listing Requirements, AirAsia will make the necessary disclosures to the Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad on any material transaction or development relating to the Company.

This announcement is dated 12 July 2016.

[jani 0]

Typical of these things (dual listing) to get leaked to the media. Either by the bankers pitching the deal or a "spy" on the company's board

[KK Lee 5]

Believe it is a trend for non-glc plc to have dual listing.

[JuliusWong 0]

AirAsia Group is planning to enter the Chinese market by partnering an unspecified Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE) informed sources have told Reuters.

According to the report, the budget carrier is talking to Chinese banks and potential shareholders including China Everbright Bank. AirAsia China would seek to tap traffic from fast-growing secondary and tertiary Chinese cities and funnel through the Group's main Kuala Lumpur Int'l hub for onward connections throughout Asia as well as south to Australia.

For more/ Source: http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/47735-airasia-in-talks-to-set-up-chinese-unit

[flee 5]

I think this article may have been picked up from agency reports.

 

Here is the Airasia statement to Bursa Malaysia:

 

We refer to the Article appearing in the major newspapers today in relation to “AirAsia eyes HK listing as it expands in North Asia”.

AirAsia wishes to clarify that:-

1) Dual listing is not an option AirAsia is formally considering at the moment. In any event such an exercise could not be undertaken without the proposal being deliberated by the Board or without prior consideration of the various regulatory and commercial aspects on the matter. None of which has been undertaken thus far.

2) Joint Venture in China: AirAsia does from time to time receive proposals to establish airline joint ventures in various jurisdictions. Currently AirAsia is not pursuing any new joint venture proposals as we continue to focus on launching AirAsia Japan as well as strengthening our existing joint venture airline operations within Asean and India.

As required under the Main Market Listing Requirements, AirAsia will make the necessary disclosures to the Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad on any material transaction or development relating to the Company.

This announcement is dated 12 July 2016.

 

[flee 5]

AirAsia is doubling down its focus on North Asia with a regional office in Hong Kong overseen by former AirAsia executive Kathleen Tan, who is widely credited for AirAsia's strong Chinese relations and growth in China: AirAsia is the largest non-greater China airline company in the country. Across North Asia the opportunities are large, but the challenges equally big. A China-based AirAsia affiliate would appear to be a long term ambition.

More immediately, AirAsia is regaining a local Northeast Asia presence with the launch of AirAsia Japan Mk II in 2017. Although delayed from initial 2015 start-up projections, AirAsia Japan gives the group relevance in a large domestic market and significantly growing short haul international market.

Elsewhere in Northeast Asia the opportunities are mixed. Korea and Hong Kong are becoming saturated and remain protectionist. Macau and Taiwan are unlikely to be big enough to support a local AirAsia unit.

AirAsia focuses on Northeast Asia as Kathleen Tan returns

Over the years AirAsia has had a team focussed on growing the group's business in North Asia. Earlier in 2016 AirAsia doubled down by moving the North Asia team to Hong Kong and placing it under the leadership of Kathleen Tan, who has rejoined AirAsia. The office in Hong Kong could also mean that the group is considering a listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange, Reuters has reported.

During her time at AirAsia Ms Tan was often seen as the number two to AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes, with Ms Tan wielding greater responsibilities than regional AirAsia CEOs. Besides her general commercial function, Ms Tan is credited with bedding down positive relations with Chinese authorities and facilitating AirAsia's China growth.

AirAsia is the largest non-greater China airline group in China. At the most extreme of AirAsia's very future ambitions would be a local AirAsia China unit. Some industry observers reckon that if anyone can have a foreign airline group establish a local passenger airline in China, it is AirAsia's Ms Tan.

LCC affiliates are uncommon in Northeast Asia

More: http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/airasia-exploring-future-opportunities-in-northeast-asia-chinese-affiliate-enticing-but-difficult-297432