AirAsia wins big at World Travel Awards 2023

HO CHI MINH CITY: AirAsia continued its winning streak at this year’s World Travel Awards 2023 – Asia and Oceania, bagging the coveted titles of “Asia’s Leading Low-Cost Airline” for the eighth consecutive year and “Asia’s Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew” for the seventh year in a row.

The carrier emerged the winner in these categories by beating more than 10 other airlines and garnering the highest votes from industry players, consumers, and travel professionals from across the region.

AirAsia Aviation Group Ltd group chief executive officer Bo Lingam said the company was committed to honoring the confidence of its passengers by providing a better customer experience on the ground and in the air.

“We would like to thank the nearly 800 million guests and our incredible Allstars (employees) for rocking our world.

“As we fly higher with the aim to reinstate 200 planes back into operations by year-end, rest assured that we will stand by the same solid dedication that has brought us here,” he said in a statement.

AirAsia Group head of cabin crew Suhaila Hassan said the achievement was a heartfelt tribute to the exceptional cabin crew members, “who consistently go above and beyond to ensure guests’ journeys are nothing short of fantastic.”

“This recognition is not just a pat on the back. It is a testament to the passion and commitment that drive us forward and to constantly improve.

“With this accolade, we are even more motivated to keep pushing boundaries and delivering unforgettable journeys to each and every one of our valued guests,” she told reporters at the awards ceremony here on Wednesday night.

Its one-stop travel platform, airasia Superapp, also clinched the “Leading Online Travel Agency (OTA)” award as a first-time nominee.

Dabraj Sing, airasia Superapp chief business officer, said that in terms of revenues for the OTA, the platform contributed RM400 million in terms of gross booking value as of August this year.

“It was twice the growth compared to last year, and we hope to close this year on a high as well, by at least between RM600 million and RM700 million.

“Currently, there are 15 million monthly active users, and we hope to close the year with at least 20 million,” he said at the event.

Meanwhile, airasia Superapp chief operating officer Tan Mai Yin said that winning the award over other well-established OTAs solidified the company’s commitment to transforming travel through technology and providing travelers with a one-stop platform solution.

“We remain steadfast in our mission to raise the bar in the travel industry and look forward to consistently delivering unparalleled services and experiences to our customers,” she said.

Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards is one of the most prestigious, comprehensive, and sought-after awards programmes commemorating excellence across key sectors of travel, tourism, and hospitality. – BK