AirAsia CEO: Thai unit IPO on schedule

AirAsia Bhd’s Thailand unit hasn’t changed its plan to sell shares this year through an initial public offering, Tony Fernandes, its chief executive officer, said in a text message today.

The unit has delayed the share sale plan to the first quater of next year, Reuters reported earlier today, citing Sithichai Mahakun, head of corporate finance at CIMB Securities (Thailand), the financial advisor to the airline.

Thai AirAsia Co, backed by Southeast Asia’s biggest budget carrier, still plans to sell shares in an initial public offering in the fourth quarter of this year, Chief Executive Officer Tassapon Bijleveld said today in a telephone interview.

Tassapon was responding to an earlier report from Reuters that said the share sale will be delayed until the first quarter of 2012. Reuters cited Sithichai Mahakun, the head of corporate finance at CIMB Securities Thailand Co., Thai AirAsia’s financial adviser. -- Bloomberg