Bangkok--14 Dec--Thai AirAsia THAI AIRASIA RECEIVES WORLD’S FIRST AIRCRAFT DESIGNED BY THAI YOUTH Airline’s 3rd brand new Airbus A320 to serve routes starting Dec 17 Thai AirAsia chief executive officer Tassapon Bijleveld, Thai National Artist for Literature Naovarat Pongpaiboon and a Chiang Mai University (CMU) junior student welcomed Thai AirAsia’s third brand new Airbus A320 at Suvarnabhumi International Airport today. The new aircraft bears a striking Thai design created by Ekawich Ariyawong Sanukul, the CMU fine arts major who won in the airline’s Airbus-painting contest launched earlier this year. The aircraft, the third to be delivered of the 40 brand new Airbus A320s ordered by Thai AirAsia, also has painted on it a poem composed by Mr. Naovarat. The poem is painted near the aircraft’s door. Mr. Tassapon said, “This is a momentous time for Thai AirAsia. We are pleased that everyone can take part in welcoming this aircraft. This is the first aircraft in the world that bears a design made by a Thai student. This is also the only aircraft in the world that bears a poem composed by a national artist especially for an airline.” He added, “Both visual design and the poem represent Thai-ness, innovation, professionalism and the airline’s leadership in the industry.” Thai AirAsia’s third brand new Airbus A320 will be in service starting this December 17. It will serve routes connecting Bangkok to Hat Yai, Shenzhen and Macau. The airline’s two other brand new Airbus A320s are already in service and fly between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Phuket, Penang, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Thai AirAsia is continuously replacing its leased Boeing 737-300s with brand new Airbus A320s. All of the airline’s flights will be served by brand new A320s by 2010. Ekawich, in explaining the concept behind his design, said, “The design is simple but presents Thai-ness by using our local art form. The Thai form goes along well with the TAA logo; they are similar. I didn’t use the full form used in Thai designs so that the viewer can use his imagination when he sees my design. I focused more on the vertical tail so that everyone can see it from afar.” Ekawich said he is very proud of his prize because his design travels in the sky. Also, he is proud to have contributed to Thai AirAsia, the leading low fare airline in the region. He also said of his visit to the Airbus assembly plant in Toulouse, France, “I’m so impressed by this trip. I learned about how parts of the aircraft are assembled and about the sophisticated technology used in aeronautics.” National artist Mr. Naovarat added, “Thai AirAsia’s nationwide art contest has challenged me and the rest of the artistic community. Thai AirAsia has brought Thai poetry into the sky; it is as if I have written my verses in the sky.” Mr. Naovarat’s poem reads: Sky and earth rejoice In the friendliness and warmth That pour forth from Thai hearts The Thai hearts of Thai Air Asia For further information, MEDIA please contact: Desiree Bandal Corporate Communications Executive For International Public Relations Thai AirAsia My Office No. : +662 315 9811 My Mobile No.: +668 5048 4699 My Email : [email protected]