Loke denies Transport Ministry talks with AirAsia amid bailout reports

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 12 — Transport Minister Anthony Loke has denied any recent talks with AirAsia regarding a potential bailout, clarifying that his ministry has not reached any agreements with the budget carrier. Speaking at a press conference, Loke stated that there have been no meetings between the Transport Ministry and AirAsia in the last two to three weeks, nor has an agreement been finalized.

The Transport Ministry has not engaged in discussions with AirAsia over the past few weeks, according to Loke, who was responding to a Reuters report that claimed AirAsia had been in talks with the Malaysian government about potential funding support. Loke emphasized that while no deal has been brokered through his ministry, commercial airlines often interact with government stakeholders, but he could only speak definitively for his own portfolio.