JAKARTA. PT AirAsia Indonesia Tbk (CMPP) CEO Dendy Kurniawan said the airline will accept an offer to conduct a joint operation with PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (GIAA) if the state-owned airline agrees to release Citilink.
Mr Kurniawan explained that a joint operation between GIAA and CMPP can be realised if GIAA agrees to release its low-cost subsidiary Citilink.
"AirAsia is interested in acquiring Citilink. But it looks like they (Garuda) are not interested," Mr Kurniawan told CNBC Indonesia in Jakarta.
Mr Kurniawan said initially AirAsia was interested in collaborating with Garuda beyond a joint operation such as the one conducted by Garuda and Sriwijaya Group. Reviews of the plan were also discussed with Pahala Mansury, who then served as GIAA CEO, but the plan has not been executed even after a new GIAA CEO was appointed.
Previously, Mr Kurniawan said he was not interested in a joint operation with Garuda. "Sorry, we're not interested in a mere joint operation [with Garuda]," he said in a text message to CNBC Indonesia last weekend.
However, it has been affirmed that the possibility of acquisition remains open under Ari Askhara's leadership in Garuda Indonesia. (AM/MS)