AirAsia denies facing funding issues

It says it had to re-plan its shift to KLIA2 because of the relocation of the control tower.

PETALING JAYA: AirAsia Berhad today denied that funding issues were preventing it from shifting its headquarters from the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) to KLIA2, as reported in the New Straits Times.

AirAsia CEO Aireen Omar said in a press release that the company was in the midst of obtaining approvals from local authorities for its new office building.

She said the company had to reduce the height of its new building with the relocation of the the KLIA2 control tower.

“As a result of the reduced height, the original site and plan for the new office building became structurally uneconomical,” she said.

“A new site had to be identified, and plans had to be redrawn and re-submitted for approval, which has adjusted the timeline of the new office building significantly for AirAsia.”

She added that the new building was expected to be competed late next year.

She also denied a claim by NST’s unnamed source that the company was appealing to the Prime Minister to allow its corporate office to remain at LCCT.

She said AirAsia had been in communication with Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) regarding its temporary occupation of the first floor of LCCT.

“MAHB has told AirAsia that having our office there temporarily poses no disruption to their plans” to turn LCCT into a cargo and logistics hub.