Comments
Japan’s biggest online retailer Rakuten Inc is planning to enter the low-cost airline business in Japan with Malaysia’s AirAsia Bhd, a news report said Thursday.
Rakuten will purchase a stake in a Japanese subsidiary of AirAsia, Asia’s biggest low-cost carrier, the Nikkei business daily reported, citing unnamed sources.
AirAsia Chief Executive Tony Fernandes and Rakuten President Hiroshi Mikitani are set to announce the tie-up next week, with a stake of up to one-third each in the subsidiary, the Nikkei said.
The two companies reportedly plan to start flights in 2015.
Rakuten operates various businesses online, including a travel website. The company hopes to expand its travel business by utilizing AirAsia’s customer base and Asian routes, the paper said.
AirAsia established a joint venture in Japan with All Nippon Airways in 2011 and started domestic services in 2012. However, the venture suspended operations last year.
In response to the latest reports, Rakuten said “there are no facts to be disclosed at the present time”.
Comments
COMMENT NOW
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.