AirAsia Group wins approval for RM500m govt-guaranteed loan

 

Malaysia's AirAsia Group has received approval from Danajamin Nasional Bhd for a club facility of up to RM500 million (US$120 million), it said in a statement on Tuesday.

The loan, 80 percent of which is guaranteed by the government, is earmarked for working capital purposes, which will support staff costs and key operating expenses such as aircraft maintenance as the group prepares to ramp up operations, it said.

The loan, disbursed as part of a Covid-19 economic stimulus package from the government, has been approved by the airline's lenders under a club deal term financing, it said.

Danajamin Nasional, the country's only financial guarantee insurer, is half-owned by the Finance Ministry.

Malaysia is looking at allowing interstate domestic travel and international travel for its citizens when 90 percent of its adult population is fully vaccinated. The rate stood at 88 percent on Monday.

AirAsia has been seeking up to RM2.5 billion to weather the pandemic-induced slump in global travel, initially aiming to secure the funds by the end of last year.

The group plans to raise up to RM1 billion through a rights issue by the end of this year.

- Reuters