AirAsia X Berhad (AirAsia X) has announced a restructuring plan geared at facilitating an injection of fresh equity that it is hoped will allow the airline to fly again. AirAsia X has appointed Dato’ Lim Kian Onn as the deputy chairman to lead the airline restructuring. He is a Chartered Accountant and was an investment banker. He has been a Board member of AirAsia X since 2012.
AirAsia X says that it is facing severe liquidity constraints following the grounding of all scheduled flights due to government restrictions and says that there is no imminent return to normalcy. “An imminent default of contractual commitments will precipitate a potential liquidation of the airline,” states the airline. “A major debt restructuring and a renegotiation of its financial obligations are pre-requisites for any raising of fresh equity which will be required to restart the airline.”
AirAsia X is proposing a restructuring plan that includes: a debt restructuring scheme as well as the revision of the group’s business plan.
AirAsia X’s proposed debt settlement and waiver of debts involving unsecured creditors, aims to enable the group to address its debt obligations “in an orderly manner and to arrive at a debt structure that is sustainable from future operating cash flows”. The revision of the business plan will include: route network rationalisation, aircraft fleet right-sizing, cost base overhaul and workforce optimisation.
The airline states that key success factors to the proposed restructuring plan include the support from its business partners to continue the long-term relationship pre- and post-restructuring. “AirAsia X continues to engage all key business partners and hopes to enter into contracts, agreements and/or arrangements that are reflective and supportive of the airline’s revised business plan upon successful completion of the restructuring which is critical to the future viability of the business.”
Under the proposed scheme, AirAsia Unlimited Pass holders and guests with valid flight bookings will receive travel credits with extended validity for future travel or purchase of seat inventory.
“The proposed restructuring plan and establishment of new contracts, agreements and/or arrangements based on terms to be agreed upon which are sustainable based on the Group’s revised business plan is aimed to right-size the Group’s level of operations and financial obligations, which is crucial to the Group’s continued existence in the aviation landscape. These exercises are pre-requisite for the raising of any fresh capital, comprising both equity and debt needed to implement the Group’s revised business plan.”
In the last two months the company states that it has had extensive discussions with all major creditors, detailing that “whilst there are varying degrees of support for the restructuring scheme as has been proposed, all of them have expressed strong support for a continuation of the airline business”.
AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail said, “AirAsia X and other airlines the world over are struggling to survive amidst the global crisis of COVID-19 pandemic. We remain committed to our guests, Allstars, business partners and shareholders to ensure we build a viable and sustainable airline for the long-haul, and for the survival of this airline, the proposed restructuring plan is our only option.
“It has been extremely difficult for the airline during this period as we had to ground all scheduled flights, implement salary cuts and retrenchment for the first time in the company’s history as a consequence of the pandemic. Similar exercises are likely to continue during the restructuring process, but our focus is to ensure a successful restructuring to keep as many jobs as possible.
“We have a low cost base, we are in the right part of the market and many of our key markets are in green zones which are likely to reopen first. We have a robust recovery strategy in place, and with the continued support from our stakeholders, we will overcome all challenges and come out stronger.”
Benyamin Ismail also added, “In order to safeguard Malaysia’s vested interest through the aviation industry, regional air connectivity is essential for trade, businesses and economic growth, especially to our core markets of China, Japan, Korea and Australia where we have established a strong foothold. The closure of these markets can impact the stimulus spending, GDP contribution and employment within the supply chain of the aviation industry. As other airlines struggle in the current market condition, AirAsia X strives to emerge stronger once the market recovers. Our immediate focus is to obtain all necessary approvals and execute the proposed restructuring plan over the next few months.