By Gho Chee Yuan
Nikkei Markets
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 29) -- Malaysia's AirAsia, Asia's largest discount carrier by fleet size, said Wednesday its third quarter net profit surged 43% from the year earlier as a sharp decline in deferred taxes helped offset increased fuel, aircraft maintenance and other costs.
The carrier also forecast that it will make its biggest fleet expansion in years by adding a dozen aircraft this quarter to meet an expected growth in air travel demand.
