AirAsia plans rehiring laid-off workers

Sunday, 10 Nov, 2021 0

AirAsia Group plans to begin rehiring workers retrenched during of the height of the pandemic.

It will start bringing the back in January 2022, CEO Tony Fernandes says.

"Within January, we’ll get everyone back and then there’s the next journey of all the redundant staff, we have to get them back," said Fernandes.

Prospects are ‘looking better’ for the group, as borders gradually reopen.

The group is bullish about a 2022 recovery across Southeast Asia.

"Today is really the beginning of the end.… We’ve got a long way to go but we’re back," Fernandes added.

Fernandes notes progress will be uneven across the region and dependent on any factors.

These are the reopening of borders, vaccination rates, the relaxation of quarantine and simplified testing protocols.

"How much longer do we keep our borders closed when all are vaccinated and people coming in are tested? You have double vaccinated. I think Asia Pacific is behind Europe and America," he added.

Speaking of Singapore’s vaccinated travel lane program, Fernandes said: "If borders all open tomorrow, in three months, we’ll be back to normal. But my guess is, it will take us six to nine months to get us to pre-Covid levels."

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TravelMole Editorial Team

Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.

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