Bangkok--8 Oct--Thai AirAsia
For the third time, AirAsia was named the Best Asian Low-Cost Carrier by TTG, Asia Pacific’s leading travel news publisher. AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes was also named TTG’s Travel Personality of the Year.
AirAsia was unanimously named Best Asian Low-Cost Carrier by the readers of TTG Asia, TTG China, TTGmice and TTG-BTmice who cast 43,000 votes in a poll held from June to August this year. The award reflects the airline’s popularity among travel trade insiders and the traveling public.
AirAsia received the award for being the best in service, network and schedules; in dealings with travel agents for reservations, confirmations and commission payments; and in sales and marketing team professionalism. AirAsia won the same award in 2005 and 2008.
Meanwhile, TTG’s editorial board named Tony the Travel Personality of the Year for being the “most outstanding individual for taking proactive steps to develop the travel industry and for demonstrating innovation in his field.” Tony has led the airline in revolutionizing air travel and popularizing low fares that now allow everyone to fly.
The awards were conferred on AirAsia and Tony during the 20th Annual TTG Travel Awards 2009 Ceremony & Gala Dinner in Bangkok on October 8. Almost 700 travel industry professionals attended the event.
“The awards are bestowed each year upon excellent organizations of the travel trade within the Asia Pacific region that have shown strong commitment towards service excellence,” said TTG.
Tony said, “AirAsia’s award reflects our commitment to growing tourism in the region. While other airlines are contracting, AirAsia is expanding, believing that it is vitally important for Asia to receive as much support as it can get for the sustenance of its economies, including through growth in tourism. We have championed tourism in Asia by offering flights that are truly accessible to everyone.”
“AirAsia has always made smart travel choices available to everyone through innovative campaigns launched on airasia.com and other media. We have worked closely and harmoniously with the other players in the travel industry, always striving to raise the bar in service and product quality,” Tony added.
In receiving his Travel Personality of the Year award, Tony cited the contributions of his staff in the growth of the airline. Tony attributed his success in running AirAsia to the 6,500-strong AirAsians who have helped the airline fulfill its slogan of Now everyone can fly. Tony’s camaraderie with his staff and his practice of working hands-on in all of the airline’s departments is well known in the industry.
“My staff has provided the backbone for AirAsia’s successful operations. They are the ones who inspire me and who have enabled AirAsia to grow as big and as fast as it has. Through teamwork, we have turned AirAsia into the best in the industry and opened more destinations to serve and benefit even more communities. I am here today because of my colleagues’ passion, hard work, determination and focus,” he said.
AirAsia, the world’s best low-cost airline and Asia’s largest, has so far flown more than 75 million guests across its 113 routes to almost 60 destinations in all 10 ASEAN countries, China, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. AirAsia also, through its low-cost long-haul affiliate AirAsia X, connects to Australia, northern China, Taiwan, Europe and the Middle East. AirAsia has a fleet of almost 80 aircraft. The airline has ordered 175 Airbus A320 aircraft, with an additional 50 on option, to support its expansion. These aircraft are being delivered through 2014.
The airline has invested millions of dollars in quality improvement measures that include the running of its world-class training center, the AirAsia Academy. Technology is integrated in operations across the airline’s entire network to improve operational efficiency, and training programs are in place to ensure high quality service.
For more information, contact AirAsia Communications:
Topaz Subunruk
Office No : +66 2 315 9810
Email : [email protected]