This report conducts an analysis of AirAsia, the world’s Lowest Cost Airline. AirAsia is a Malaysian low cost airline. AirAsia was found in 1993 and it started its operations from 18 Nov 1996. It was established initially by DRB-Hicom, a government owned- conglomerate. On 2 December 2001, the heavily- indebted airline was purchased Tony Fernandes former Time Warner Executive.
Tony was inspired by the Low-Cost Carrier business model of Southwest Airlines and proposed to start a Low-Cost Carrier but the government refused to issue a new license and requested Tony to buy an existing airline. Hence Tune Air set up by Tony and his investors bought Air Asia for a token sum of RM1.
Before 2001. AirAsia failed to attract enough passengers from Malaysia Airline to establish its own stand in the market. The turning point for AirAsia was in 2001 subsequent to its purchase by Tony Fernandes. Tony Fernandes enrolled low-cost airline experts to restructure the business model of AirAsia. He invited Connor McCarthy, formerly the director of the group operation Ryanair, to join his executive team. In the late 2001, AirAsia airline was re-launched in Malaysia as trendy, no-frills operation with three B737 aircraft as a lowfare, low-cost domestic airline.
AirAsia’s simple slogan “Now Everyone Can Fly” has won the heart of customer’s. AirAsia’s profit for the second quarter (i.e.,ending 31 december 2004) was reported RM 44.4 million, which is a 323 % increase over the previous quarter(AirAsia, 2005).
Mission and Vision of AirAsia
The vision of AirAsia is to be the low cost Asian airline to reach out people with poor connectivity and high fares.
The mission of AirAsia is as:
To be the best company to work for where emplyess are treated as part of big family.
Create a globally recognized ASEAN brand.
To establish lowest cost so that everyone can afford to fly with AirAsia.
Adopt technology