AirAsia X hopes the government would formulate a level playing field policy that encourages competition through the upcoming Budget 2011.

Chief executive officer Azran Osman Rani said the government needed to remove protectionist and monopolistic barriers and allow companies to compete in order to create economic value for the country.

"It won't cost the government money, but at the same time it will benefit consumers and create a healthy industry," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.

AirAsia X is a Malaysian long-haul budget airline.

It franchises the brand name of AirAsia - Asia's largest low-cost carrier - and uses a common ticketing website, livery, uniforms and management style with AirAsia.

Under Budget 2011, to be tabled by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on Friday, Azran also hoped that the government would focus more on the tourism industry.

"For this industry to grow, the government really needs to think about promotion and having much better infrastructure for tourism.

"The extent of their resources and budget allocation towards improving public transportation like taxis and allowing Tourism Malaysia to promote themselves better is a good thing because that will give a real impact on jobs and value creation of Malaysia," he said.

- Bernama