AirAsia Aviation Group, in a separate statement, said Riad has been appointed to its board of advisers.

In an Instagram posting, Riad thanked AirAsia and the team “for their undying support given throughout the good as well as bad times”, and said it was “truly an honour to have been given the opportunity to work with each and everyone of you throughout these years”.

“As I take a break and transition into an advisory role for this organisation, please take good care of yourselves and stay safe always.

“I don’t really believe in goodbyes as it’s more of a ‘see you around’ thing for me. So ‘see you around’ guys,” he said in the posting, adding that he “loved every single bit of the journey with AirAsia with no regrets”.

Riad was appointed as CEO of AirAsia on Jan 10, 2018.

In its statement, AirAsia Aviation Group said Riad would also continue to be on the board of AirAsia Bhd and Ground Team Red, apart from providing consultancy work for Capital A Aviation Services.

“Riad, through his strategic vision and profound leadership, has played a crucial role in navigating the airline through the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Group CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group Bo Lingam said: “All our operations will continue as usual, unaffected by this transition. We look forward to continuing our journey with his (Riad’s) guidance and have full confidence in the capable hands of the team while ensuring a smooth transition when the new CEO is appointed.”