Another airline, Air Asia Japan, has to cease flight operations due to the corona crisis. The carrier justified this step in a media statement with "extremely challenging operating conditions". Business operations were discontinued with immediate effect following a resolution by the Board of Directors.

The Air Asia Group, based in Kuala Lumpur, has a 33 percent stake in Air Asia Japan. In a prepared statement, the group stated: "We respect and have approved AAJ's decision as this would reduce the cash burn of AAJ and the company in view of the extremely challenging operating conditions in Japan."

Air Asia Japan itself stated that the travel and quarantine regulations have caused a massive drop in demand and that there is currently no prospect of improvement. "These factors have put a heavy strain on the company's ability to continue operations," the carrier said in a media statement. Only flights operated by Air Asia Japan are currently affected.

Air Asia Japan can also envisage a comeback: "The international connections from Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines to Japan will be resumed in the future when the travel restrictions are lifted and the borders to Japan are reopened," said Air Asia Japan in one Media statement. However, it remains unclear whether the Japanese branch will make a comeback or whether other carriers from the Air Asia Group will then take over the routes.