Bangkok--20 May--Thai AirAsia Tony Fernandes to address Microsoft leaders at Advance 08 AirAsia’s Group CEO Dato’ Sri Tony Fernandes will join Rupert Murdoch, Sumner Redstone, Mark Zukerberg - founder of Facebook, Film Director James Cameron and Microsoft’s Chief Software architect Ray Ozzie in addressing this years Advance 08 summit, which will take place today at the Microsoft presentation centre in Mountain View California. Dato’ Sri Tony Fernandes says: “To be able to stand alongside a group that includes some of the most iconic business people of our time is an incredible privilege, especially for a young brand like AirAsia. The invitation itself is a mark of recognition of an amazing achievement of what my 5000-strong team has tirelessly worked towards. It will be a real honour to present to Microsoft’s global business leaders on how we turned around a heavily indebted airline (with only 2 planes) for 26 cents in 2001 and transformed it into the largest and leading low cost airline in Asia. We have always sought to lead the aviation industry — from being the first in Asia to introduce innovative services such as bookings online at our website (www.airasia.com), pre-ordered meals and checked baggage online as well as the introduction of web check-in and Xpress Boarding, AirAsia’s priority boarding service -- we have never been afraid to innovate and lead change. The success of AirAsia flourished through innovative extension of the brand outside of Malaysia through strategic joint ventures Thailand and Indonesia, allowing it to broaden its reach from these two hubs. AirAsia took another revolutionary step late last year by launching Asia’s first-of-its-kind low cost long haul airline, AirAsia X. I make every effort to encourage my staff to think out-of-the-box in every aspect of our operations, business, culture, products and services.” AirAsia was also recently recognized as one of the WORLD’s most innovative companies by Fast Company magazine, making it the only ASEAN brand and the only airline to have made it on the “Fast 50” list. Other notable companies include Google, Nike, Facebook, Apple, Disney, GE, BMW and IBM to name a few. Currently, AirAsia’s online booking accounts for 70% of its total booking and recorded a remarkable 260 million impressions per month. AirAsia's fun and friendly website , www.airasia.com is not only highly popular but is also the biggest online travel portal in Asia with hits from over 200 countries worldwide. For further information, MEDIA please contact: Euro RSCG Biss Lancaster: Leah Phelps/Ceri Bevan Tel: +44 (0) 207 467 9200 Email: [email protected] AirAsia Media Relations Team: Janet Leow Office No : +603 8660 4265 Email : [email protected] Mazlan Rasheed Office No : +603 8660 4263 Email : [email protected] June Chow My Office No : +603 8660 4287 My Email : [email protected] About AirAsia With the tagline 'now everyone can fly', AirAsia’s low fare, no frill philosophy is aimed to make flying affordable and convenient for everyone, introducing several ‘firsts’ in Asia to fulfill their commitment to AirAsia passengers. Its accolades include being the first in Asia to introduce innovative services like online ticketing (in 2002), and the first airline in the world to introduce SMS booking (in 2003), as well as the introduction of Xpress Boarding, their new priority boarding service. AirAsia has also won several awards since their inception six years ago, most recently winning the endorsement of Manchester United Football Club to become their official low cost carrier, winning Airline of the Year from the Centre of Asia Pacific Aviation, winning the World Airline Award for Best Low Cost Carrier in Asia, as well as being nominated as one of the Top 50 Most Innovative Companies. The airline today is proud to be a truly ASEAN airline with its network stretching across 10 ASEAN countries, now including Singapore. For more information, please log on to www.airasia.com About AirAsia X AirAsia X, an affiliate of AirAsia with shareholders including the Virgin Group and AirAsia Berhad, is a low-cost long-haul airline launched in January 2007, and which commenced commercial services in November 2007. Having licensed its brand from AirAsia, AirAsia X’s long-haul, low-cost business model is built on sustainable and continued delivery of everyday low fares. Currently it flies 4 times weekly to Gold Coast, Australia and 5 times weekly to Hangzhou, China. AirAsia X aims to cover destinations which are more than four hours in flight duration from Kuala Lumpur, complementing the existing AirAsia network and offering daily point-to-point frequencies to popular destinations in Australia, North Asia, India, the Middle East and Europe. AirAsia X enhances the in-flight experience with a number of innovative services and comfortable seats new to the low-cost model. For more information, please log onto www.airasia.com Desi Bandal Corporate Communications Executive For International Public Relations Thai AirAsia Tel. no. +662 315 9811