We apply the uniform Airy approximation (Beuc and Horvatic 1992 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 25 1497) to the analytical model proposed by Devdariani et al (2002 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 35 2469. The model describes asymptotically forbidden quasimolecular optical transitions within the frame of the semiclassical approach. Our results support conclusions that the uniform Airy approximation, originally developed for the asymptotically allowed transitions, is applicable to a broad class of asymptotically forbidden but collisionally assisted optical transitions as well. In addition, we present a new transitional formula and discuss some further approximations.