What a momentous day it was for AirAsia & AirAsia X yesterday. We are humbled to have been jointly awarded the prestigious Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) Airline of the Year Award for 2009 this year at the CAPA Aviation Awards for Excellence presentation ceremony, held at the Great Wall Sheraton in Beijing, China.

We can only thank each and everyone of you out there who has supported us through the years, and grow together with us every moment of the way. We only look forward to continue doing our best, ensuring that all of you will have more great stories to share with us, and about us.

“From 2 planes to 80 and from 200,000 to over 75 million passengers in just a short 7 years marks unprecedented growth by any airline globally, let alone a low fare airline like AirAsia. We are deeply flattered to accept this award and this shall further bolster our pledge – to provide superior services coupled with our low fares plus diverse service options to our guests. This is our promise,” he concluded.

The CAPA Airline of the Year 2009 award is deemed the uppermost level of recognition given to airlines for excellent achievements in the aviation industry and outstanding strategic contribution over the course of the past year.

Our Group CEO, Tony Fernandes was awarded the CAPA Legend Award (Aviation Hall of Fame) for 2009 for shaping the way the aviation industry has evolved, along with Dato’ Seri Bashir Ahmad (Managing Director of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad), Ray Webster (founding CEO of EasyJet), Dr Cheong Choong Kong (former Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Airlines) and Maurice Flanagan (founding Vice Chairman, Emirates Airline) who were previous winners of this award.

Many more things that you can look forward to from us, such as new routes, greater network, & groundbreaking lie-flat bed seats next year! :)

Achieving this might not have been easy, but this is proof that if one dares to dream the impossible, believe the unbelievable & never take no for an answer... all things are possible.

Let's continue to make more dreams come true :)

It was indeed a great occassion when a baby was born on one of our planes. Much has been heard about the mother & baby Asia, but here's an account from the doctor himself , who assisted with the delivery of the baby on board. Thank you, Dr. Ronald for being a blessing :)

Enjoy reading, everyone!

I was on my journey home from Penang after attending a 3-day course. Less than one hour into the flight, I was reading the The Edge in flight, waiting for my online pre-booked Nasi Lemak.

The running footsteps of a cabin crew broke the ‘silence’ (the humming of the airbus jet).

“Is there such a need to run in plane? This is really disturbing,” I asked myself.

The cabin crew announced the need for medical assistance. Immediately, I thought to myself, “Maybe someone is suffering from air sickness… no big deal.”

The captain walked to the back of the plane while others started whispering “Gosh… the lady is in labour pain!” and that alerted me.

It occurred to me ‘who else have to do the work?’ I approached the scene immediately.

“Don’t come near, I am a doctor”.

“Why did you not respond during the first call? Could you please show me your proof as a doctor?” one of the crew asked me.

I had my official ID card together in my handcarry, so no problem, but some embarrassment.

I was introduced to the mother, and had her answer a few questions. She answered, “This is second baby and the first is 7 years old”.

I examined her, (head presentation, cervix full dilatation), then I reassured the mother and the crews (more reassurance needed for the crews).

“How long will this last before delivery?” one of the crew asked.

“It could be in minutes”. We were all working together to comfort the mother.

There was no way to halt the delivery, I had to conduct the delivery, proper protection, proper maneuver, instruct the mother to push at proper time… (don’t worry we actually had plenty of plastic gloves and tissues). Everything was very standard except that it was not in a labour room setting.

A baby boy was born and his crying triggered much cheer and joy from everyone. Delivery was completed while we were still flying with about less than half an hour to landing.

After landing, the ground medical team took over to care for the mother and the newborn baby.
Being able to experience this in a flight is exceptional, as it is a rare occasion.

Furthermore, it did not the matter if I was the doctor, but I could imagine how it would be like if a doctor was not present.

Imagine these uncool scenarios: i) the mother was alone during labour, ii) the mother in labour attended only by a helpless doctor, iii) the mother and baby safe, but no emergency landing and admission to good centre for further care.

The examplary professionalism was heartfelt, the pilot made the best decision to reroute and landed safely, the air hostesses did the best in accompanying and helping the mother at her most painful time, the doctor conducted the delivery and the ground medical team ever-readily took over the duty.

Praise to everyone.

Not sure if I would be meeting the mother & baby again, but I wished them the best, and I am definitely happy seeing them living well. Am also glad to hear the name Asia Liew Ya Hang for the baby, as it is huge and signifies rich and fast growing over the continent with many possibilities, like AirAsia.

All in all, an incident like this could have caused everyone maximal distress, but I am thankful to have bagged a truly remarkable memory with this experience.

Stands were packed, the atmosphere buzzing, and the engines revving! For the first time in nearly 10 years, Malaysians had their own riders to support...and you have to admit, they did it in style, with a slick looking bike and suit (not biased at all of course)

After great practice and qualifying sessions, it was already looking up for AirAsia Team Malaysia, but at the same time everyone was keeping cool under the spot light and trying not to lose focus among all the attention.

Elly Idzlianizar Ilias and Mohd Zulfahmi Khairuddin, the AirAsia Team Malaysia MotoGP 125cc Riders ended up in 16th and 20th place (respectively) at the end of today's race - just narrowly missing out on World Championship points - which is a great result.
After months and months of preparation (selection process for the rider's started back in May), today made it all worth it.

We're ready to take on the world!

In the pits, everyone wanted pictures with the boys, with our lovely flight attendants, who were there to support the event - and there was a real excitement in the air. For me, it was the first time at a MotoGP and I loved it - and after a little taster, I'm definitely going to keep up to date with next year's competition when it starts back up again - maybe with a full Malaysian Team entered...and just think, I'm not even Malaysian, so goodness knows how you are all feeling now that you have MotoGP heroes to look up to!!

But seriously, I think it's great that Malaysia can fully utilize all the potential talent it has, and open up new doors for young aspiring riders, engineers, technicians...and all the other positions that are involved in MotoGP and all motor sports.

Today was a great day for AirAsia and Malaysia - together, AirAsia Team Malaysia showed the world what is capable of happening when you work hard towards the same goal.

Well done Elly, well done Fahmi, well done AirAsia Team Malaysia, and well done Malaysia!

learning should be never ending and humble!!

that is basically what i told myself before the Final Interview i had with AirAsia last saturday, in the AirAsia Academy.. things were actually very messed up and i was honestly, very much nervous even the night before as i've written in the previous post.

well, on that very day itself during the interview, we, the shortlisted candidates (23 in total) were supposed to sit for 3 test, give out a presentation, as well as to attend a 3 to 1 interview with the interviewing board.. trust me, things were nowhere close to being easy and it was definitely nerve wrecking even just waiting for the results.. i was actually lucky enough to be the 3rd candidate in the list as i got to be called up earlier for the interview and allowed to leave at 5pm or so as some of the candidates at the end of the list were only able to go back at 10.30pm..

so, while waiting for my turn, i was praying so hard to God and to ask for forgiveness from my belated grandpa and to bless me so that i can successfully pass that interview.. when my turn came, i went in, greeted the interviewers then the questioning and interviewing session began.. the interviewers knew so much about the industry that they were so specific on all the candidates to know and understand how airlines and the aviation industry works..

after the interview, most of us were actually very tired and exhausted as we were all stressed out and had already given our best throughout the interviewing process.. as we were told that the results of the interview would be out on tuesday, i had a hard time trying to sleep.. i was so worried and nervous yet anxious for the results as i know very well, i wanted this very very very badly and i've been trying and wishing to get this chance to be a pilot, and to be able to join the cadet pilot programme by an airline..

so, after the long and painful wait, the results were finally announce on the following wednesday morning and i was so worried even before i opened the e-mail.. although i was hinted in a way the night before that i've successfully pass the interview and will in the final 10 list, i was still actually very nervous as i was scared that the administration or the board may just make a mistake...

i prayed so hard, crossed my fingers and toes, then clicked and open the e-mail to then only find out that i've successful, and officially get into the programme and became the final 10..

so...here am i... after a whole day and night of partying and celebrating, to share and to express my gratitute towards airasia...

this is actually a video i've made earlier...

thank you air asia...

to those who've failled in any of the interview, please, don't give up.. it s*cks to fail and worst when you're that close in realising your dream, but then giving up means the end of everything..

all the best and good luck to the rest of the aspiring pilots..!

Hello Air Asia blog team and everyone,

As you all know, I applied the cadet pilot through the “So you wanna be a pilot” contest. I am one of the lucky 35 who was shortlisted to go through the selection stages of the cadet pilot programme. With full confidence and faith, I passed the 1st stage written tests, 2nd stage aptitude test and was finally called up for the final interview on October. During my interview session, I was told that I did not do well for the short test prior to the interview, in other words I failed the test. Like anyone would, I was shocked and got carried away, I did not know what went wrong. I honestly tried but there was nothing else I could do to convince the interviewers to take me as part of their cadet pilot. Maybe I did not prepare well enough, but I have tried my best.

On the day of the announcement of the results, I did not see my name on the list… I am unsuccessful. It was heartbreaking and painful to accept… a part of me died knowing I did not make it to the top 10. The only thing in the world that I would want to do was to find inspiration, just to keep my spirits up…
And then I remembered my post for the blog, you still kept it Air Asia. I read it again... Somehow, in every aspect it told me not give up in pursuing my ambition.

Although I have failed but in every defeat there is a hidden success. I have learned a lot of things from this experience, I came to know that there are many candidates who failed the interview stages several times but are still persevering and vying for this opportunity again.

I recalled even the littlest things during the final minutes of my interview, when one of the interviewers told me to never give up my dream, eventhough the news is devastating... he said, “Just so you know, I’ve completed my SPM in 1990 and it took me 13 years to finally be a cadet pilot. Don’t ever give up your dream no matter what, work harder next time and soon enough we will be flying together.” The words from a pilot that will stick in my heart for life. This failure is not the end of the road yet, it does not mean I have given up, not yet.

Air Asia, you once told me not to give up no matter what. You’ve strengthen my determination and my passion even more and made me realize how much this dream means to me. I will get back up and fight for something that I want to do for the rest of my life. So, I have applied to be part of your cadet pilot programme again and I will never stop applying until my age tells me to.

Well, this pilot dream would be switched off for the time being and I will concentrate on my normal routine. But I hope that a surprise would come around anytime soon!