AAX Redesignates Benyamin Ismail As General Manager, Appoints Tharumalingam As Group CEO

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) has redesignated its chief executive officer (CEO) Benyamin Ismail to the position of general manager, effective today, as part of the consolidation of AirAsia Group’s aviation business under AAX.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia today, the low-cost carrier said Benyamin, 48, who joined AirAsia in March 2010, has served as CEO of AAX since Sept 1, 2015.

Following a successful debt restructuring, AAX has maintained a track record of quarterly profitability under his leadership, which was instrumental in the company’s upliftment from its Practice Note 17 (PN17) status, it said.

“To date, the company remains profitable in its ongoing operations.

“In his new role as general manager, Benyamin will continue to be the accountable manager for AAX in running the day-to-day operations as an airline operating company,” it added.

AAX said Benyamin offers extensive industry expertise gained through various roles in the financial sector, whereby he spent eight years in investment banking with a focus on debt capital markets.

In a separate filing to Bursa Malaysia, AAX also announced the appointment of Tharumalingam Kanagalingam as its new group CEO, also effective Jan 19, 2026.

Tharumalingam, commonly known as Bo Lingam, joined AirAsia in 2001 and has played a key role in shaping the AirAsia Aviation Group’s strategic direction and operational framework, it said.

He has held various senior leadership positions over the years, including purchasing and supplies senior manager, regional guest services director, chief of operations and planning, group chief operations officer, president and group chief operations officer, deputy group CEO of airlines and group president of airlines.

As group CEO, Tharumalingam will continue to drive the airline’s evolution by prioritising operational excellence, optimising processes and enhancing the customer experience, while strengthening AirAsia's presence in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Cambodia, while also overseeing the establishment of new airlines within the group, it added.

-- BERNAMA