(Reuters) – Malaysian budget airline AirAsia Group is in talks with Indonesian ride-hailing and payments firm Gojek to acquire its business in Thailand, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Wednesday citing sources familiar with the matter.
Under the deal, Gojek would take a stake in AirAsia’s digital arm, while the low-cost carrier would acquire Gojek’s business in Thailand, Nikkei said citing a different source with knowledge of the talks.
A deal with the Indonesian startup unicorn comes just a week after the loss-making airline applied for a digital banking license in Malaysia, signaling a shift in focus towards digital business as most of its fleet remains grounded amid coronavirus restrictions.
(Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
