Who We Are
AirAsia needs no introduction in ASIA and ASEAN, where it is the leading low-cost carrier, connecting people and places across 388 routes, 104 of which are categorised as unique routes. In 2018, the Group, which includes AirAsia Group Berhad (Consolidated AOCs – AirAsia Malaysia, AirAsia Indonesia, AirAsia Philippines), AirAsia Thailand, AirAsia India and AirAsia Japan reinforced its leadership position with two remarkable milestones: flying over 500 million guests and grew from 2 aircraft in 2001 to 226 aircraft as at end-2018.
From an airline with two aircraft flying six routes in Malaysia in January 2002, AirAsia has soared in the last seventeen years to cover over 152 destinations in 22 countries. Today, employing more than 20,000 staff and with a market capitalisation of just over RM9.7 billion (as at 17 July 2019), it is the only Truly ASEAN airline, serving the region's 3.3 billion population from 24 hubs in six countries - Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Penang, and Johor Bahru in Malaysia; Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi, U-Tapao (Pattaya) and Chiang Rai in Thailand; Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya and Lombok in Indonesia; Manila, Kalibo (Boracay) Cebu and Clark in the Philippines; Bengaluru, Delhi and Kolkata in India; and Nagoya in Japan.
The quest to democratise air travel began when Tune Air Sdn. Bhd. – founded in 2001 by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Dato' Pahamin Ab. Rajab, Datuk Kamarudin Meranun and Dato' Aziz Bakar - bought over the loss-making, debt-riddled AirAsia from HICOM Holdings Berhad (now DRB-HICOM Berhad) for a token sum of RM1. The enterprising group quickly settled the airline's debts and set about rebranding and relaunching AirAsia as a low-fare carrier.
The Group's entire business model centres around a low-cost philosophy which requires its operations to be lean, simple and efficient. Several key strategies have been employed towards this effect, including:
- High Aircraft Utilisation
AirAsia focuses on high frequency and high turnaround of flights, both of which add to customer convenience and greater cost efficiencies. Its turnaround of 25 minutes is the fastest in the region.
- Low Fare, No Frills
This means no frequent flyer miles or airport lounges in exchange for lower fares. Guests have the choice of paying for in-flight meals, snacks and drinks.
- Point to Point Network
All short-haul AirAsia flights (four-hour flight radius or less) and medium- to long haul AirAsia X flights are non-stop, doing away with the need for human resources, physical infrastructure and facilities at transit locations.
