AirAsia is planning to list its brand management unit on the Nasdaq following the completion of a SPAC merger. The move aims to capitalize on the lucrative franchise and licensing market in the U.S., where the budget airline is not widely recognized.
Tony Fernandes, the founder and CEO of Malaysia-based Capital A Berhad, which owns AirAsia and its brand business, expressed intentions to generate interest in the vast market potential of Southeast Asia’s population of almost 700 million people and beyond. Fernandes highlighted the decision to target the American market due to its sophisticated understanding of branding compared to Southeast Asia.
Acknowledging that the AirAsia brand is not well-known in the U.S., Fernandes emphasized the importance of raising investor awareness about the brand’s potential for growth. He also stressed the strategic positioning of AirAsia in Southeast Asia, an area that has garnered increased geopolitical attention.
Fernandes noted that brand licensing opportunities could encompass sectors like hotels, mobile services, and airlines in regions such as South Asia and Africa, where AirAsia currently does not operate subsidiaries.
Source (CNBC)
