9 January 2004KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia’s low fare, no-frills airline AirAsia and Australian budget airline Virgin Blues have jointly been awarded the “2003 Asia-Pacific Airline of the Year” by the Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation (CAPA) based in Australia.
According to CAPA, the award is given to airline(s), which create the impact on the development of the Asia-Pacific airline industries during a particular year.
AirAsia chief executive officer Tony Fernandes, in a statement issued yesterday, commended his staff and gratitude to the airline’s passengers for winning the award.
"AirAsia would not be what it is today without the team spirit and tireless efforts of our staff. Our special thanks go to the Malaysian Government who has been very supportive since we first started.
Fernandes said the airline would continue “to strive for excellence and be a market leader in stimulating travel and tourism in the region."