AIRASIA OFFERS 50 PCT DISCOUNT FOR MEDIA TO TRAVEL, PROMOTE INTEGRATION WITHIN ASEAN
KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 (Bernama) -- AirAsia, a strong proponent of ASEAN integration, is offering a 50 per cent discount to 12,000 accredited media personnel to travel to 57 destinations across the bloc’s 10 member states.
Co-founder of the low-cost airline and Capital A Bhd’s chief executive officer, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, said the initiative stems from the airline's appreciation of the role the media has played in AirAsia’s journey—from a modest two-aircraft operation to one of the region’s largest low-cost carriers.
“Let’s be real. AirAsia is where it is because there has been a lot of press coverage from day one. They have helped tell our story, shared our vision, and supported our growth, and I credit the press for a tremendous amount of what the airline has achieved.”
“From a two-plane airline (back in 2001) to 250 now. In the first year of operations, we carried 200,000 passengers—to this year, when we will have carried around a billion,” Fernandes told Bernama in an interview, expressing his appreciation for the support the airline has received since it began operations 24 years ago.
The initiative was announced at the National Journalists Day (HAWANA) 2025 celebration and was introduced following a request from the Malaysian government to find meaningful ways to commemorate Malaysia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN this year.
It aims to provide journalists with the opportunity to explore and experience other ASEAN countries.
“As I’ve said in interviews, one of the best ways to integrate ASEAN is for people to better understand one another. This is our small way of contributing to that goal—by enabling journalists who have long supported us to experience ASEAN first-hand,” Fernandes said.
In a further effort to honour those who have contributed to ASEAN society, Fernandes said AirAsia would also name aircraft after journalists and feature their images on plane liveries.
“I have always wanted to name our planes, so we thought of starting it at HAWANA. The name will be announced later.
“We have around 250 aircraft, so it won’t just be journalists. We’ll name planes after musicians, actors, sports personalities, food hawkers—people who have shaped ASEAN culture and are sometimes forgotten,” he added.
The campaign is part of AirAsia’s broader efforts to support cultural appreciation and strengthen people-to-people connectivity across the ASEAN region.
The HAWANA 2025 celebration, themed ‘Journalism in the New Era: Embracing AI, Safeguarding Ethics’, was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.
About 1,000 media practitioners from Malaysia and abroad attended the prestigious event, which is held annually to celebrate and honour the media fraternity.
Organised by the Ministry of Communications, with the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) as the implementing agency, HAWANA recognises the essential role journalists play in national development.
-- BERNAMA
