Managing director Ahmad Fuaad Dahalan told The Star newspaper that prospects for the region's airline and travel industry this year remained bright, barring further crises.

"We believe that the recent tsunami disaster will not severely impact overall travel demand," he said.

"We are confident the tourism industry will recover in the short term as various governments and the international community are working together and focused on rebuilding the affected territories."

The United Nations has said it fears the death toll from the disaster may already be 150,000 across the South and Southeast Asia region.

Sixty-six people died in Malaysia in the tsunamis. While Malaysia lies closer to the epicentre of the earthquake than many countries harder hit, it was protected from the full force of the waves by Indonesia's Sumatra island.