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  • The Global CBD Market: Will It Overtake THC?

    The Global CBD Market: Will It Overtake THC?

    CBD has come a long way since it was taken off the list of schedule 1 drugs a few years ago. It’s available online everywhere and in stores and dispensaries across the nation. It’s not only available in pharmacies like CVS and Walmart, but you can even buy it in stores like Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle Outfitters.

    There are also far fewer restrictions on growing and distributing CBD. Organically grown CBD from Oregon, for example, is becoming a widespread industry thanks to the integration of USDA regulations that help to monitor hemp growth and improve the final products. Colorado, Washington, Kentucky, and other states are also taking advantage of more lax industrial hemp laws to help turn the CBD market into a multi-billion-dollar industry.

    With the rapid growth and excitement around CBD, investors and fans alike are asking: Will CBD become more popular than THC?

    The answer to this question depends on who you’re talking to, but most of the evidence points to yes. CBD seems to be growing at an unstoppable rate, and the dollar signs just keep growing.

    2018 Began an Upward Swing for CBD Sales

    Market research shows that 2018 was the beginning of CBD sales as we know them now. The upward tick occurred even before the Farm Bill was passed at the end of the year, allowing more industrial hemp growth across the nation.

    During 2018, there was great political and media awareness of CBD, and that made consumers curious. When the FDA got involved and conducted a hearing on cannabis with more than 100 speakers sharing their opinions, that curiosity only grew. It increased sales just through simple curiosity.

    More than 10 percent of all dollars spent in a dispensary were spent on CBD in 2018, according to a BDS Analytics report. This was up 3 points from the previous year, a monumental growth in the industry.

    This was also the year that the creativity in the market started to explode. We went from having inhalable CBD and sublingual oil tinctures to having gummies, capsules, gel capsules, chocolates, coffees, and so much more.

    CBD to Be a $20 Billion+ Industry

    Multiple reports show that the CBD industry is slated to reach upwards of $20 billion within the next four years. BDS Analytics believes it will be worth $20 billion by 2024, which is 10 times what it was worth in 2018. Rolling Stone published a report recently stating that it would be a $22 billion industry, and other reports believe it will be worth even more

    Currently, the cannabis industry as a whole is worth about $52 billion with an anticipated growth rate of 18 percent. That means that CBD amounts to nearly half of all cannabis sales, and it could overtake current THC sales faster than you might think.

    Overall Consumers Seem to Prefer CBD

    When compared to the sales of CBD, THC seems to be far less popular than CBD. This could be because of the legal issues surrounding THC in certain states, but it’s more likely because CBD offers many of the benefits of marijuana without getting users high. For some, getting high is a nice perk, but for most, it’s very inconvenient to be high all the time in order to get the health benefits of the cannabis plant.

    CBD as an alternative form of medicine is very enticing to consumers. There are boundless claims to what CBD can do, and while we’re getting more research to play out the roles of CBD in human physical and mental health, the facts are still a little fuzzy on all CBD can do.But many consumers aren’t interested in the scientific facts about CBD. Rather, they like to hear what others are saying and how they feel with the substance in their systems. So far, the most common praises of the best CBD oil involve relief from the following ailments:

    • Anxiety
    • Pain
    • Inflammation
    • Depression
    • Epilepsy/seizures
    • Neuroprotection
    • Skin conditions
    • Overall health protection
    • Addiction recovery
    • Cancer symptoms treatment

    These claims are not groundless. We do have plenty of research on animals and some human trials that show positive results in these areas, and that’s enough for many consumers. They continuing buying CBD, whether or not it has a placebo or real effect on their systems. And these results are the reason why CBD has become so popular. Many people look for the best CBD balms, oils and other related products.

    The FDA’s Involvement Will Play a Large Roll

    Analytical reports on the state of CBD show that the FDA will be getting more involved in the future, and that could be a game changer for CBD. The FDA has been holding hearings and sponsoring research over the last couple of years to evaluate how best to get involved in the CBD market.

    The outcome of the FDA’s findings will be huge for the CBD market as a whole. If they deem CBD a useful medication and start regulating it like they do any other drug, the sales of CBD will skyrocket. Not only will consumers be more apt to purchase the products, but doctors will begin suggesting CBD to more patients.

    Big pharma will start buying up CBD and industrial hemp farms, laying out the groundwork for endless research on the product. They’ll develop medications and likely sell them at high price points, massively driving up the numbers for the CBD market. THC has played a role in pharmaceutical research, but the restrictions make it difficult for it to go mainstream, another way that CBD and THC markets differ.

    If the FDA determines that CBD should not be part of their federal regulations and that it’s more of a supplement, CBD sales will likely continue to grow at the same rate. Things will continue as usual.

    But if the government group decides that it’s harmful and starts marketing it as such, sales will no doubt plummet and CBD companies will be shut down all over the country. Thankfully for CBD users and those invested in the products, the chances of this occurring are very slim.

    This list of possibilities simply illustrates how the FDA has a great stake in the future of CBD. Any investors in the industry would do well to monitor the FDA’s stances on CBD during this coming year.

     

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  • Outdoor lifestyle brand Giriox arrives with premium adventure gears and worldwide delivery

    Outdoor lifestyle brand Giriox arrives with premium adventure gears and worldwide delivery

    The current COVID-19 lockdown period has let us feel trapped and restless in our own homes only. No wonder many people, especially the outdoor enthusiasts, are chalking out adventure plans they will set out for once the lockdown ends. And a recently launched outdoor lifestyle brand, Giriox, is extending a comprehensive range of novel adventure gears to complement those upcoming adventures.

    Based in the USA, Giriox caters to the whole of the USA as well as the U.K., Canada, and Australia.

    “We are excited to bring to you our innovative outdoor lifestyle brand Giriox this month. We know we are passing through a testing phase of late in the wake of the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19. But amid the frustration of lockdown, there is still a positive aspect- we are getting plenty of time to plan and prepare for our upcoming adventure trips and reinvent our life. And this is when you have Giriox to help you with all the adventure gears and accessories you might need to make the most of your camping or hiking trips once this lockdown ends”, stated a leading spokesperson from Giriox.

    Claimed as the “outdoor lifestyle specialist” Giriox is bustling with a vast and versatile range of outdoor activity gears and accessories.

    The spokesperson mentioned about their unique collection of designer camp cookware sets that one can take along in his adventure trips in the woods. Some of the cookware or cutlery sets are also foldable to ensure a travel-friendly package. Customers can choose from utensils or cutleries made from stainless steel, titanium alloy and also eco-friendly bamboo. In regards to design, Giriox cutleries are a refreshing change from run-of-the-mill regular counterparts. From spoons and forks in unique wrench shapes to cutleries in trendy dual-toned pink & blue shades, customers will find many exotic options on Giriox website.

    “We have come up with high quality, rust-free, easily cleanable, durable and risk-free portable camping utensils and cutleries that will last for years. Our exquisite designs are another great reason why you would love to have a look at our camping tableware collections, says Sven.”

    Other than cookware or utensils, Giriox also houses different kinds of fire equipment like a butane torch, color flames powder, solar spike lighter and so on. Additionally, customers will find camping sleeping bags, camping mats & pillows as well as camping tents. The tents are available in various styles and sizes to choose from as per the size of one’s camping group.

    “We have got almost everything and anything you would need to make your outdoor trips safe and memorable. From fire equipment to sturdy weather-resistant tents, we have them all and many more. We promise you exceptional quality and smart designs too. Whether you are going out for casual hiking tours in nearby woods with family or are about to set out for solo camping in extreme conditions like dense jungles- you can always count on us your one-stop partner for best adventure gear. Giriox is the ‘outdoor lifestyle specialist’ that you have been waiting for all these years.”

    Giriox also offers expert consultation for camping and other adventures for the new outdoor enthusiasts or anybody who needs pro guidance in adventure trips.

    For more information, please visit www.giriox.com.

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  • Service robots prove popular at height of pandemic

    Service robots prove popular at height of pandemic

    With the coronavirus pandemic continuing to spread relentlessly around the globe, “untact,” or non-contact services are emerging as a new trend, and demand for service robots to replace humans is also growing.

    The state-run Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (Kotra) says interest in service robots has soared since they were employed in public-sanitation and service businesses to limit the spread of Covid-19 in China.

    According to the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, 54 percent of all voice robots introduced in China were used more than 1 million times per day during the Chinese COVID-19 quarantine period, which lasted until February 7.

    According to an analysis of some 500 cases collected by the coronavirus artificial intelligence (AI) quarantine support information platform, the most popular products were service robots, big data analysis systems and smart recognition (body temperature measurement) devices.

    Service robots are divided into “professional service robots” used at companies and in public places and “home and personal service robots” used in ordinary homes.

    Among them, the market for service robots stood at US$9.46 billion as of last year, up 14.1 percent from a year earlier. The average annual growth rate of service robots over the past five years also stands at 21.9 percent.

    China’s service robot market stood at US$2.2 billion last year, accounting for 25 percent of the global service robot market.

    It is a figure that grew 19.6 percent year on year, with an annual average growth rate of 28 percent over the past five years, exceeding the global average. Furthermore, it is expected to grow to $4 billion in 2021 as demand rises.

    Chinese service robots have been focused on housekeeping, guest reception, customer service (in retail stores, restaurants and banks) and education, led by start-up companies.

    However, with the outbreak of Covid-19, service robots have drawn more attention in areas such as delivery, quarantine disinfection and patrol.

    In particular, during the coronavirus quarantine process, multi-function products for disinfection, temperature measurement, and mask-wear monitoring, rather than products equipped with one function, were notable.

    “The market for service robots is expanding through rental services, easing the initial burden of introduction compared to directly selling hardware,” Kotra said.

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  • Lockdown Cuts India’s Fuel Demand 50% In First Half Of April

    Lockdown Cuts India’s Fuel Demand 50% In First Half Of April

    Indian state retailers sold 50% less refined fuel in the first two weeks of April than the same time a year ago as a nationwide lockdown to stem the spread of the new coronavirus hit transportation and industrial activity, industry sources said. State companies – Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum Corp and Bharat Petroleum – own about 90% of India’s retail fuel outlets. India’s gasoil sales by state retailers in the first 15 days of April dropped by 61% from a year earlier while petrol and jet fuel sales declined by 64% and 94%, provisional industry data provided by two sources, who asked not to be named, show.

    India’s overall refined fuel demand includes consumption of fuel oil, bitumen and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). State-retailers sold 21% more LPG in the first fortnight of April from a year earlier. India is providing free cooking gas cylinders to the poor for three months to June to help them weather the impact of the lockdown.

    India has extended the overall lockdown until May 3, but has announced a roadmap to restart some industrial activity after April 20 in locations that are not coronavirus hotspots to try to revive the economy.

    The International Energy Agency (IEA) in its latest report said India’s annual fuel consumption – a proxy for oil demand – will decline 5.6% in 2020 compared with the growth of 2.4% forecast in its March report. It estimates India’s petrol demand will decline by 9%, while diesel will drop by 6.1%. The slump in fuel demand has already forced some refiners to halve crude processing and increase prompt exports of refined fuels.

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  • Luxury brands thriving on JD during Covid-19

    Luxury brands thriving on JD during Covid-19

    Around 20 luxury brands have opened stores on Chinese e-commerce platform JD since the beginning of January, seeking new avenues for business against the backdrop of the global coronavirus pandemic.

    The onboarded brands include fine-leather goods house Delvaux, Chanel-owned jewelry brand Goossens, luxury cashmere specialist Barrie, British luxury leather brand Smythson, cashmere knitwear brand Pringle of Scotland, and international designer brands MSGM and Proenza Schouler.

    When Italian designer brand By Far launched its flagship on JD recently, 65 percent of its stock sold out after four days and about 90 percent of its products cleared after one month, according to figures released by JD.

    “The pandemic has affected many industries, and luxury is no exception. It has encouraged many luxury brands to attach greater importance to online,” said JD fashion-and-lifestyle president of international business Kevin Jiang.

    “JD’s supply chain advantages, and the support we provide, have attracted brands to deepen their partnerships with us. In the coming months, we plan to offer more innovative programs to help brands deal with the impact of the pandemic.”

    To date, more than 200 international luxury brands have established partnerships with JD.

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  • How Covid-19 is impacting food-and drink-markets in Southeast Asia

    How Covid-19 is impacting food-and drink-markets in Southeast Asia

    The spread of Covid-19 is forcing Southeast Asian consumers to change their eating habits and embrace new shopping practices, says Mintel Apac food-and-drink analyst Tan Heng Hong.

    Given today’s consumer climate, food and drink categories with strong immunity claims can drive home the importance of immunity to protect wary consumers, he says.

    “Manufacturers of immunity-boosting food and drink products are actively promoting the importance of immunity to strengthen the body during the pandemic. These immunity-enhancing products include vitamin-fortified food and drinks, as well as spoonable yogurt, drinking/cultured yogurt, and nutritionally-complete drinks,” says Heng Hong.

    According to the Mintel Global New Products Database, growing-up milk (1–4 years) (16 percent), meal replacement drinks (6 percent), and drinking yogurt/liquid cultured milk (6 percent) make up the largest share of food and drink product launches in Southeast Asia that carried an immunity claim between March 2017 and February this year.

    The research also confirmed more and more consumers are turning to the convenience of ordering their groceries online as people choose to stay indoors to minimize their exposure to Covid-19. As a result, online grocery vendors have witnessed a surge in orders.

    This trend presents huge opportunities for grocery retailers to better engage with consumers through measures that bring added value and convenience, he says.

    “We’re also seeing growing interest in at-home cooking, which presents challenges and opportunities for brands looking to engage with those preparing and enjoying tasty meals at home.

    “Online grocery players can maximize the current situation and gain new users by showcasing the benefits of shopping for groceries online, including having sufficient stock of popular items during the pandemic, safe handling and delivery of parcels, free delivery, promotions, and use of e-payments.”

    There is evidence that consumers stuck at home are finding it challenging to prepare healthy meals that taste good. According to Mintel’s research, 72 percent of consumers in Vietnam cook meals from scratch all or most of the time, and 52 percent say it is difficult to prepare healthy food with great flavor.

    Heng Hong says as more consumers dine at home to avoid crowds, food manufacturers can step in to provide them with a more convenient, tasty and healthy meal solution.

    “Even after the current situation calms down, given the scale of the outbreak, and depending on the duration of lockdown measures, the pandemic is likely to leave an indelible mark on consumer lifestyles. Key behaviors such as vigilance around immunity and hygiene will stick around for the long term, as will dependence on online grocery shopping and, possibly, even the habit of at-home cooking.”

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  • WhatsApp to increase group audio and video call limit in upcoming update

    WhatsApp to increase group audio and video call limit in upcoming update

    The current global crisis has led to an increase in communication services usage, but it looks like they’re able to cope with the demand for the time being. Even though it seems that there’s enough bandwidth to accommodate the spike in usage, many of these services require improvements.

    WhatsApp is in the process of upgrading its mobile apps with a couple of improvements that are meant to allow multiple users to participate in audio and video calls. WABetaInfo has learned that WhatsApp plans to extend group audio and video call limit on Android and iOS devices.

    Currently, WhatsApp users can initiate group calls with up to 4 participants, but a future update will increase the number of participants that you can invite in a group call to at least 6. It’s unclear what the final number will be, but we do know that WhatsApp will apply the same enhancements to the video call group feature.

    Neither of these improvements is available in the beta version of WhatsApp yet, but they are evident in some strings of code discovered by WABetaInfo. The changes are expected to be implemented in both Android and iOS versions of WhatsApp, but we don’t know when exactly they will be rolled out.

  • Ex-UBS Private Banking Veteran Reemerges at StanChart

    Ex-UBS Private Banking Veteran Reemerges at StanChart

    A private banking veteran, most recently with UBS leading a team covering high net worth clients in Hong Kong, has reemerged at Standard Chartered.

    Chiu Wai Man has joined Standard Chartered as a deputy market head for Hong Kong, effective as of yesterday.

    A spokesperson for the bank confirmed the new hire.

    Chiu was most recently the Hong Kong country team head at UBS where she joined in 2018 with the task of hiring more relationship managers for the bank’s high net worth business in the city under regional market manager Adeline Chien. Chiu has around 20 years of banking experience and was previously with Hang Seng leading a 30-strong private banking team after stints with ANZ and HSBC.

    2020 remains on track to reach its target of $100 billion assets under management (AUM) in the next two to four years. The bank had over $67 billion of AUMs as of 2019-end.

    In January this year, Standard Chartered hired another ex-UBS banker, Gerald See, as an executive director and senior client partner based in Singapore to focus on ultra-high net worth (UHNW) clients. At UBS, See was previously a director in its family office and UHNW division.

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  • Volkswagen Group Sales Down 23% In Jan-March

    Volkswagen Group Sales Down 23% In Jan-March

    Volkswagen Group on Friday said sales of its cars dropped by 23% on the year to 2 million cars in the January to March period.

    In March alone, deliveries were down 37.6% overall at 623,000 vehicles, the figures showed, reflecting the coronavirus crisis which triggered plant closures and falls in sales as consumers were tied up at home in lockdown measures across the world.

    German carmakers to resume production as lockdowns ease

    German carmakers including Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz will restart production at some German factories next week. It’s part of a partial reopening of business and shops over the next few weeks.

    More specifically, March sales were down 44.6% year-on-year in western Europe, down 23.1% in central and eastern Europe, down 42% in North America, and down 35% in China, the company said.

    Experts believe that declines in April sales could be steeper as the full impact of the lockdowns works its way through the system.

    Volkswagen on Thursday withdrew its outlook for 2020 due to the uncertainty related to the virus outbreak which caused operating profit to drop 81% in the first quarter.

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  • Ford Issues $8 Billion Debt Securities After Coronavirus Causes $2 Billion Loss

    Ford Issues $8 Billion Debt Securities After Coronavirus Causes $2 Billion Loss

    Ford Motor Co on Friday raised $8 billion from corporate debt investors to shore up its cash reserves as the coronavirus outbreak pummeled vehicle sales and production, resulting in an estimated loss of about $2 billion for the first quarter.

    The Dearborn, a Michigan-based company, which lost its investment-grade status in March, raised new funds with a three-part debt offering, according to a regulatory filing.

    Investors said Ford benefited from the U.S. Federal Reserve’s move last week to backstop debt offerings by companies that lost investment-grade credit ratings after the COVID-19 crisis accelerated in the United States, International Financing Review reported on Friday.

    “Today’s deal is a good sign of the growing confidence around the improving market backdrop with respect to liquidity as well as more promising views around the economic outlook,” said Dan Mead, head of the investment-grade syndicate at Bank of America Securities, which was one of the lead banks on the Ford deal.

    Ford Motor Co announced on Monday that it expects about a $600 million pre-tax loss for the first quarter of 2020.

    In an environment where interest rates on cash savings are close to zero, Ford will pay investors an interest of between 8.50% and 9.625% on the new debt securities.

    There was around $40 billion worth of demand from investors across the three debt packages, according to a person familiar with the matter.

    Ford had earlier drawn down over $15 billion from revolving credit lines to ride out the pandemic, which forced the shutdown of its North American and European factories during the past month.

    Separately, General Motors Co disclosed in a regulatory filing that it had entered into a 364-day revolving credit agreement of $1.95 billion. The automaker said it has allocated the credit line for exclusive use by its financial services business.

    Ford on Friday said it had to put up additional guarantees for earlier loans – not the notes sold Friday – because it has not maintained an investment-grade status. It has suspended its dividend for the quarter.

    Stanching the cash drain and restarting profitable operations in Europe and North America will be critical for Ford in the months ahead. The company told investors ahead of Friday’s bond deal that absent new funding and a restart of production, it had cash to last to the end of the third quarter.

    Now, Ford has more breathing room financially, and federal and state officials this week said they expect coronavirus lockdowns to begin easing, possibly allowing auto plants to begin building vehicles again early next month.

    Still, the company has taken a body blow from the pandemic at a time when it was already wrestling with a difficult restructuring effort begun more than two years ago. Ford’s vehicle sales to dealers fell 21% in the first quarter, compared with a year earlier.

    Only Ford’s joint ventures in China, where the pandemic has been receding, are currently producing vehicles, and dealers there have resumed work.

    Separately, Ford warned that its production of high-priced versions of pickups and sport utility vehicles could be hurt due to the damage caused by a tornado earlier this week at parts supplier BorgWarner’s South Carolina factory.

    BorgWarner’s facility makes transfer cases for some of Ford’s most profitable vehicles, such as four-wheel-drive large F-series pickups and large sport utility vehicles.

  • OCBC Shutters Investors Hub During Circuit Breaker

    OCBC Shutters Investors Hub During Circuit Breaker

    The bank hopes to encourage more people to stay home and comes in support of stricter social distancing measures implemented by the government to contain the spread of Covid-19.

    OCBC Bank’s wholly-owned brokerage subsidiary, OCBC Securities, will temporarily close its Investors Hub at OCBC Centre South from 20 April to 4 May 2020, it announced in a statement on Friday.

    The bank said customers will be able to continue to trade or make transactions through their trading representatives or on OCBC Securities’ digital platform, iOCBC, as the brokerage will continue to be operational during this time.

    The Monetary Authority of Singapore also urged the public to minimize visits to their premises during the current circuit breaker period.

    «While financial services remain available as one of the essential services exempted from the suspension of activities at workplace premises announced by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) on 3 April 2020, customers are urged to use digital, email, and telephone channels as far as possible and minimize face-to-face interactions at FI premises,» the regulator said in a statement on Friday.

    About half of the bank branches in Singapore have closed, along with most of the physical service locations of insurers, brokers and fund managers, in view of reduced customer traffic.

  • Giordano sales drop 34.6 per cent in March quarter

    Giordano sales drop 34.6 per cent in March quarter

    Fashion group Giordano says its March quarter sales fell by 34.6 percent as the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic saw stores shuttered in key markets.

    Comparable same-store sales growth was a negative 30.2 percent.

    “Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, many countries have implemented public health measures and ‘lockdowns’, often resulting in the halting of social and commercial activities,” the company said in a stock-exchange filing.

    “Moreover, the outcome of the Sino-US trade conflict remains unclear. All of these factors have adversely and significantly affected consumer sentiment and also foot traffic at our shops in various markets.”

    Year on year, Girodano’s global net store count has reduced by 128, most of the closures in Mainland China, where the network has shrunk from 623 to 572. In Hong Kong and Macau the retailer has shuttered a net seven stores.

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  • Debenhams begins liquidation of Hong Kong business

    Debenhams begins liquidation of Hong Kong business

    British multinational department store Debenhams has begun liquidation of its operations in Hong Kong, along with its operations in Ireland and Bangladesh.

    The move comes a week following filing for administration in the UK, according to a report in Retail Gazette.

    All of Debenhams’ Hong Kong staff will have their positions terminated as the liquidation process commences in Asia. In Ireland, liquidators have been appointed.

    The firm has continued operations in Denmark under the Magasin brand, where it currently trades online despite temporary closures of its physical stores. It is intending to reopen as many of its 142 locations in England as possible once business restrictions are lifted.

    The majority of Debenhams’ furloughed staff in Britain are receiving government support during the coronavirus pandemic. The firm’s administrators have said that if a court finds Debenhams responsible for staff wage liabilities, many positions may be made redundant.

  • McDonald’s Singapore shuts all stores

    McDonald’s Singapore shuts all stores

    McDonald’s Singapore has temporarily closed all its restaurants as preventative action during the island’s “circuit breaker” period.

    According to a company statement, McDonald’s Singapore is suspending its restaurant operations, including drive-through and delivery service, until May 4.

    “These are indeed unprecedented times for all of us,” said Kenneth Chan, MD of McDonald’s Singapore. “With the safety of all our customers and employees as top priority, we will do all we can to help Singapore flatten the curve.”

    The company has confirmed staff will be paid as usual during the period of closure.

    The move came on Saturday, a day after the company suspended its takeaways service.

    McDonald’s Singapore had previously closed its store at Changi Airport Terminal 3 and its drive-thru outlet at a Shell petrol kiosk on Tampines Ave 2, after employees tested positive for Covid-19 at each location, taking the number of infected McDonald’s Singapore staff to seven since the coronavirus outbreak first occurred.

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  • AirAsia to resume flights in Malaysia

    AirAsia to resume flights in Malaysia

    Low-cost carrier Airasia is set to resume local flights in Malaysia on April 29, subject to the authorities’ approval.

    It said yesterday it has also set to commence flights in Thailand on May 1, the Philippines (May 1), India (May 4) and Indonesia (May 7).

    “The resumption of services will initially be for key selected domestic routes, which will increase gradually to include international destinations around the network, once the situation improves and governments lift borders and travel restrictions, ” AirAsia said in a statement.

    The low-cost carrier said flights are already open for booking via the airasia.com website and its mobile app.

    “Guests may use their credit accounts to redeem for these flights, ” it said, adding that further details on more routes and flight schedules will be announced in the coming weeks, subject to approval from the authorities.

    In the same statement, AirAsia Group president (airlines) Bo Lingam(pic below) said the group hopes to resume full operations as soon as possible.

    “We have undertaken a thorough review of our guest handling procedures both on the ground and onboard in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    “We have been working closely with the airport authorities to ensure that all the relevant precautionary measures are in place to ensure a safe, pleasant and comfortable journey for everyone.

    “At AirAsia, the safety and wellbeing of our guests and employees is always our highest priority.

    “We work actively with all our regulators, local governments, civil aviation and health authorities, including adhering to guidance from the World Health Organisation and International Civil Aviation Organisation to ensure the highest standards of compliance and conformance are in place for every single flight we operate in our network.”