AirAsia on a high

JUNE 2010

AIR ASIA has been named the 2010 World’s Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax for the second year in a row.

The annual Skytrax awards are among the most highly regarded in the industry, with the results based on surveys of more than 17 million air passengers of more than 100 different nationalities conducted over nine months.

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes, says the award is even sweeter given that it’s voted by passengers.

“It reaffirms once again that we are the people’s champion,” he says.

The honour is another feather in the cap for the Malaysian-based carrier, which took out the prestigious title in 2009. Last October, AirAsia and AirAsia X were also awarded jointly the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) Airline of the Year Award for 2009.

AirAsia X CEO Azran Osman-Rani says the award further bolstered Air Asia’s global reputation for providing excellent and value-for-money services.

“This is validation from our guests and peers that with our stunningly low air fares, new fleet, growing network, outstanding service, and constant innovations such as our new flatbed premium seats, we are a truly global and great airline worthy of recognition.”

It’s good news for the low cost carrier following an investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) for what it cited were two serious incidents while landing at Gold Coast Airport.

The bureau claims two of the airline’s twin-engine Airbus dropped to unsafe heights over the Gold Coast two weeks ago on two separate occasions.

“AirAsia X has been advised by the ATSB that this is a routine investigation only,” says Osman-Rani.