AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer, Tony Fernandes, says the Malaysia-based budget carrier holding has discussed possible acquisitions with HNA Group.
In an interview with the Nikkei Asian Review, Fernandes said he had met HNA co-founder and Chairman Wang Jian and spoke with him about possible cooperation between the sides, adding that he "for sure" would consider acquiring unspecified businesses from the ailing Chinese conglomerate.
On whether AirAsia Group was interested in acquiring HNA Group's interests in Hong Kong Express (Hong Kong International) and Hong Kong Airlines (HX, Hong Kong International) Hong Kong Airlines and Hong Kong Express, which are owned by HNA, Fernandes said, "We are always interested in whatever opportunities go our way." He went on to highlight that discussions with Wang have so far not been about airlines in Hong Kong specifically.
HNA Group has been disposing of its various assets as well as equity in its operations as a means of raising liquidity to meet debt repayment deadlines.
According to Bloomberg News, Hainan Airlines Holdings is planning to sell some of its office buildings and hotels in Beijing and Shanghai to cover its maturing debt. The carrier holding has a total of nine properties up for sale, with an estimated book value of CNY14 billion yuan (USD2.2 billion).
Among the assets for sale include the Shanghai NHA Tower, the Shanghai Yangtze International Enterprise Plaza, and the Renaissance Shanghai Pudong Hotel.
