AirAsia in talks to sell minority stake in its loyalty programme: sources

Singapore

MALAYSIA'S AirAsia Bhd is in talks to sell a minority stake in its loyalty programme joint venture to private equity firms, in a deal that could value the business at about US$330 million, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. AirAsia BIG, the loyalty programme owned by Asia's biggest budget airline and Malaysia's Tune Group, could raise about US$100 million by selling about a 30 per cent stake, the people said.

The sale highlights AirAsia's attempts to monetise its affiliates and comes after the airline - co-founded by entrepreneur Tony Fernandes - reported its first net loss in two years in the October-December quarter.