The government reportedly asked Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air whether they could absorb AirAsia’s domestic market share amid the low-cost carrier’s worsening financial difficulties.KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines has not held any official discussions with the government about absorbing AirAsia’s domestic market share or taking over its routes and aircraft, says Malaysia Airlines president and CEO Nasaruddin A Bakar.

In mid-September, Reuters reported that the government had approached Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air to ask whether they could absorb AirAsia’s domestic market share amid the low-cost carrier’s difficulties, which have been compounded by rising fuel costs linked to the Iran war.