As part of its regional growth strategy, low-cost carrier AirAsia is still interested in expanding into Myanmar’s airline market. An article in the Myanmar Times quoted the firm’s CEO Riad Asmat as saying that countries such as Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia remain “untouched in terms of the possibilities for AirAsia”. He also added that expanding its presence in the Indochina region is the company’s goal. AirAsia was in discussions with local operator FMI Air earlier this year. However, the deal was blocked by authorities who wanted to protect local companies, and did not move forward. Since then, FMI Air has halted operations amid a cluttered domestic market. The airline was still interested in Myanmar, despite the challenges in the market, according to Asmat.