AirAsia X moves to rename itself AirAsia Group as consolidation completes

AirAsia X has taken a formal step towards rebranding itself as AirAsia Group Berhad, in a move that would cement the airline’s role as the listed aviation arm of the wider AirAsia ecosystem.

In a Bursa filing dated 24 April 2026, the long-haul carrier said its board is proposing to change the company’s name from AirAsia X Berhad to AirAsia Group Berhad. The proposed name has already been reserved and approved by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) on 24 February 2026.

The name change is however, still subject to shareholder approval at the company’s forthcoming 19th annual general meeting. A circular detailing the proposal will be sent to shareholders in due course. If approved, the new name will take effect from the date CCM issues the notice of registration of new name to the company.

The move follows earlier signals from the group that AirAsia X would eventually house the consolidated airline business under a single AirAsia-branded listed vehicle.

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In January, AirAsia X said it was “exploring a possible change of company name” to reflect the consolidation of AirAsia Group’s aviation business, after confirming plans to acquire 100% equity interest in AirAsia Berhad and AirAsia Aviation Group from Capital A.

At the time, the company stressed that no definitive decision had been made and that any proposal would be subject to board, regulatory and shareholder approvals.

Founder Tony Fernandes also outlined the broader vision in a LinkedIn post earlier this year, describing a return to “one airline group and one brand” as AirAsia X and AirAsia move under a unified structure, with Capital A repositioned as the non-aviation holding company. Capital A is in the midst of exiting its Practice Note 17 (PN17) status, and plans to do so after four consecutive profitable quarters. 

The proposed rebrand comes on the heels of governance and leadership changes at AirAsia X. Earlier this month, the group formally welcomed former Axiata chief Jamaludin Ibrahim as independent non-executive chairman, as it set out plans to navigate higher fuel costs and geopolitical uncertainty.

Under Jamaludin’s leadership, the board has been positioned as providing “independent oversight and long-term perspective” as the airline enters what it describes as a renewed focus and growth phase.

The group has reaffirmed its commitment to Kuala Lumpur as a key hub and to developing Bahrain as a strategic base connecting Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Service to Bahrain is scheduled to commence on 26 June 2026, alongside capacity reallocations to higher-yield routes such as Almaty, Tashkent and Istanbul.

Advisor Tony Fernandes said Jamaludin’s appointment brings “governance depth and independent oversight” as the unified airline group embarks on a new chapter, while group CEO Bo Lingam has highlighted strong demand across ASEAN destinations and a continued emphasis on Fly-Thru connectivity via Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.

Earlier on, Fernandes had shared that the consolidation of AirAsia's aviation business was designed to simplify the brand architecture while unlocking operational and financial efficiencies. These include improved fleet utilisation, integrated network planning, and the ability to leverage Capital A’s broader ecosystem to drive down costs and increase ancillary revenue.

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