Tony Fernandes Receives Prestigious Nikkei Asia Prize

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KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 (Bernama)-- AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes was awarded the prestigious Nikkei Asia Prize in Tokyo today for his contribution to the growth of Asia.

 

The award, by leading Japanese newspaper publisher Nikkei Inc, recognises Tony's role in democratising travel in Asia, said AirAsia in a statement.

 

According to Nikkei Inc, under his leadership, AirAsia revolutionised the air travel industry in the region by pioneering the discount carrier phenomenon.

 

As a result, air travel became widely accessible to people from all walks of life, boosting travel in the region, it added.

 

AirAsia said the award is a timely recognition for AirAsia, which is hoping to start Malaysia-Japan flights this year.

 

AirAsia plans to make Kuala Lumpur the premier gateway to ASEAN for Japanese tourists. It is also hoping to offer low-fare flights to Japan to the 600-million strong ASEAN population.

 

"We're here to link more communities and to grow travel and tourism in Asia. We look forward to providing more links between the ASEAN region and the rest of Asia, including Japan.

 

"Links between countries play an integral part in strengthening Asia economically, socially and politically, and we are committed to helping achieve this," added Tony.

 

Tony is the only airline executive to have received the award. He is also the first Malaysian individual to be given the award since the launch of the annual Nikkei Asia Prizes in 1996.

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Nikkei Asia Prizes Awarded To 3 Individuals:

http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20100519D19EE841.htm

[Naim 6]

Pls go to:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11647205

Edited November 2, 2010 by Naim

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Ten years ago discount airlines barely existed in Asia. Thanks to Tony Fernandes and AirAsia, millions in the region can now afford to travel.

 

By 2001 low-cost carriers had a decent foothold in North America and, operating from Ireland and the U.K., in much of Europe. But as late as 2005 much of Asia still reserved flying mainly for the affluent, using established and often state-owned airlines. But an agent of change was at work to change the terms of the trade. AirAsia, headquartered in Malaysia, was opening up service to multitudes and bringing the world's fastest-growing region together on a scale that hadn't been possible. In the latest full year 14.3 million passengers boarded AirAsia.

 

Yet it has not been a smooth flight. Various routines had to be upset in business and political cultures that do not take easily to change. On top of that, the airline industry is notoriously cyclical. In economically fraught 2008 AirAsia suffered a net loss of $144 million. But its pilot persevered, further confounding doubters by enjoying himself all the while. As prosperity again spreads widely in the region, the path for our 2010 Businessman of the Year looks further upward.

 

Read the story of Tony Fernandes, our Businessman of the Year, Flying on a Budget.

[Naim 6]

Businessman of the Year

Flying On A Budget

 

Brian Mertens, 12.03.10, 10:40 AM EST

 

Forbes Asia Magazine dated December 20, 2010

 

High ticket prices meant spending school breaks far from home. After Tony Fernandes grew up he did something about that, and created a new industry in Asia.

 

READ FULL STORY HERE: http://www.forbes.com/global/2010/1220/features-airasia-tony-fernandes-flying-on-budget.html

[JuliusWong 0]

Ten years ago discount airlines barely existed in Asia. Thanks to Tony Fernandes and AirAsia, millions in the region can now afford to travel.

 

By 2001 low-cost carriers had a decent foothold in North America and, operating from Ireland and the U.K., in much of Europe. But as late as 2005 much of Asia still reserved flying mainly for the affluent, using established and often state-owned airlines. But an agent of change was at work to change the terms of the trade. AirAsia, headquartered in Malaysia, was opening up service to multitudes and bringing the world's fastest-growing region together on a scale that hadn't been possible. In the latest full year 14.3 million passengers boarded AirAsia.

 

Yet it has not been a smooth flight. Various routines had to be upset in business and political cultures that do not take easily to change. On top of that, the airline industry is notoriously cyclical. In economically fraught 2008 AirAsia suffered a net loss of $144 million. But its pilot persevered, further confounding doubters by enjoying himself all the while. As prosperity again spreads widely in the region, the path for our 2010 Businessman of the Year looks further upward.

 

Read the story of Tony Fernandes, our Businessman of the Year, Flying on a Budget.

 

 

Congrats to Tony!!! Just a matter of time the government 'allows' Sydney flight.

[E Faizal 0]

Congratulation to him and his team.!!! He is our proud.

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They are also facing protection problems in AKL and JED.

 

Their joint venture in Vietnam - also blocked!

 

Anyway, congratulations Tony Fernandes. Not many Malaysian businessmen make the international headlines for a job well done!

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Team Lotus technical director Mike Gascoyne tweets:

 

Congratulations to Tony Fernandes, Forbes Asia businessman of the year. Bet the guys from Proton have never won that!!!

 

Tony Fernandes:

 

Thank you for all for wishes.thrilled to have won businessman of the year by forbes. Great for a little asean company to beat china india

[Gavin Andrew David 6]

I knew something was up when we had a Forbes journalist in the academy just a week before this...

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SINGAPORE: Forbes Asia has named Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, the regional low-fare airline pioneer, as its 2010 Businessman of the Year.

 

Fernandes is the pioneering chief executive officer of AirAsia Group, one of South-East Asia's hottest global brands.

 

A former record company executive, Fernandes took over Malaysia's then-ailing AirAsia in 2001 and relaunched it as a no-frills airline.

 

Today, AirAsia had become the region's largest low-cost carrier, with nearly 8,000 employees, 100 planes and flying 140 routes, including 40 that no airline had served before, said Forbes Asia in a statement released yesterday in tribute to Fernandes.

 

Its Malaysia-listed parent company, AirAsia Bhd, saw first-half revenue grew 18% year-on-year to US$562mil, while net profits grew 24% to US$131mil, Forbes said.

 

Commenting on the award being conferred on Fernandes, Forbes Asia editor Tim Ferguson said: The competition was tough including from leaders of Forbes Asia's Fabulous 50 companies.

 

Although several mainland Chinese entrepreneurs fully came into their own this year, in general they are still excelling in a single national market that is subject to domestic booms and busts. Fernandes is expanding his business outward, Ferguson said.

 

Forbes said Fernandes' improbable route to the airline industry started with Tupperware.

 

More here: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/12/4/business/7555086&sec=business

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AirAsia boss gets award from British queen

February 07, 2011

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 — Iconic entrepreneur Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes has been awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) honour by Queen Elizabeth II of Britain.

 

Fernandes is also the Team Lotus team principal and AirAsia Group chief executive officer.

 

The award was conferred on him “for services to promote commercial and educational links” between the United Kingdom and Malaysia.

 

“It is a recognition of the hard work, determination and effort on the part of all my partners, colleagues and staff in AirAsia, Tune Group and Team Lotus,” Fernandes (picture) said in a statement yesterday.

 

The CBE is the second major award to be conferred on him in Europe after the Officer of the Legion d’honneur in 2010, the highest award for a non-French national for his outstanding contributions to the aviation industry.

 

Fernandes was also recently named “Asia Businessman of the Year 2010” by international magazine Forbes. — Bernama