Despite recent comments from AirAsia’s CEO Tony Fernandes about plans to enter the Russian market, the Malaysian low-cost carrier has not submitted any official requests to Russia’s aviation authorities to begin operations.

The Russian Ministry of Transport confirmed that the airline has yet to apply to Rosaviatsiya, the country’s Federal Air Transport Agency. “There have been no applications from them to Rosaviatsiya,” the ministry said in a statement.

Earlier this week, Fernandes announced AirAsia’s intention to start flights between Bangkok and Moscow within six months and to explore possible routes from Japan to Vladivostok. The news attracted attention as it would mark the airline’s first foray into the Russian market, connecting Southeast Asia and Russia with budget-friendly fares.

AirAsia, headquartered at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, currently serves more than 130 destinations across Asia and beyond with a fleet of over 200 aircraft. The airline is known for pioneering low-cost travel in the region and has been gradually expanding its international footprint since post-pandemic recovery began.

However, with no formal applications filed, AirAsia’s potential entry into Russia remains only a plan for now. Whether the airline moves forward with regulatory procedures in the coming months will determine if these routes become a reality.