Malaysia’s Raya Airways denies talks with AirAsia

Raya Airways (TH, Kuala Lumpur Subang) has denied having any talks about a potential sale to AirAsia (AK, Kuala Lumpur Int’l), after The Edge Malaysia weekly said the companies were in preliminary discussions.

“On behalf of Raya Airways Sdn. Bhd. and after consulting with Raya’s shareholders and Board of Directors, we would like to clarify that Raya and its subsidiaries/affiliate companies are not in any talks with AirAsia Group Berhad or any other parties for the acquisition of the Company or any part of its businesses,” the cargo specialist’s managing director, Mohamad Najib Ishak, said in a statement.

He “categorically” stressed that the earlier report was misleading and underlined that Raya Airways was “growing in strength” operationally and financially. Recently, the company announced plans to expand its fleet, although it did not disclose any details.

The initial report suggested that AirAsia was looking to strengthen its logistics unit Teleport through the acquisition. It noted, however, that Raya Airlines’ owners were reluctant to divest from the carrier. On top of numerous cargo-only flights operated with the group’s passenger aircraft, Teleport exclusively charters a B737-800(BCF) from Thailand’s K-Mile Asia (8K, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi).