AirAsia Group has been recognized as the Top Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) in Asia for 2024 by AirlineRatings.com, according to the aviation review website’s annual Airline Excellence Awards.
The award, announced on May 28, 2024, highlights AirAsia’s remarkable journey since its founding in 2001 with just two aircraft.
The airline has grown to become a dominant force in the Asian region, operating as full-fledged airlines with bases in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
Geoffrey Thomas, Editor-in-Chief of AirlineRatings.com, described the win as “richly deserved,” praising the leadership of AirAsia’s founder, Tony Fernandes, and his executive team, including Group CEO Bo Lingam and AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail.
“These airlines have made travel affordable for nearly 800 million passengers throughout Asia and Asia Pacific and they offer outstanding value and a great experience,” Thomas said.
Fernandes, CEO of Capital A and Strategic Advisor to the AirAsia Aviation Group, attributed the success to the resilience of the AirAsia team in overcoming the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are thankful and humbled by this award, which goes out to all of my airline CEOs and senior team members as well as to the many thousands of ‘Allstars’ who have gone above and beyond to bring us to where we are now,” Fernandes said.
He also highlighted the proposed divestment of the AirAsia Aviation Group of airlines from Capital A to AirAsia X, which he described as a “game changer” that will expand access to low-cost air travel across Asia and the Asia Pacific region.
Bo Lingam, Group CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group, emphasized the airline’s commitment to providing a high-quality travel experience despite its low-cost model.
“AirAsia continues to push the boundaries on what it means to be a low cost carrier because low cost doesn’t mean low service for our airlines,” Lingam said.
He further noted the airline’s ambitious growth plans, including a fleet expansion with over 400 new aircraft, to connect travelers not just within Asia, but globally.
Benyamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X, echoed Lingam’s sentiment, emphasizing the airline’s post-pandemic recovery and the strategic synergies with Capital A and the AirAsia Aviation Group.
“We look forward to the great opportunities posed by leveraging strong synergies from Capital A and the AirAsia Aviation Group which will unlock opportunities for our guests to enjoy the value we deliver as they fly smarter in many of our medium to longer haul markets,” Ismail said.
He described the combined force as a “formidable” network carrier connecting Asia to the world.
Ricky Isla, CEO of AirAsia Philippines, attributed the win to the dedication of the airline’s Filipino employees.
“We owe it to our Allstars for always going the extra mile for our guests,” Isla said. “This win is a humble reminder to never rest on our laurels and continue to innovate the products and services to best suit the Filipino market.”
AirAsia has grown rapidly since its inception, now operating a fleet of over 255 aircraft flying to more than 165 destinations.
The airline group is pursuing plans to divest its aviation business from parent company Capital A to affiliate AirAsia X.
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