Najib praises AirAsia's achievements

SEPANG: The vision of seeing low-cost air travel in Malaysia become a resounding success for more than a decade has earned Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak the title "Father of Low Cost Air Travel" among the staff of AirAsia today.
Recalling the moment, Najib said AirAsia had proposed to him when he was the deputy Prime Minister in 2007 to help reduce the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) imposed at its former hub the LCCT, here, to RM25 in an effort to spur passenger growth for the low cost airliner.
"I accepted the proposal back then because I could see the potential growth that would be generated from low cost air travel.
"I brought it up to the Cabinet and thankfully it was approved then as it enabled more people to embark on low cost air travel ," he said in his speech during the officiating ceremony of AirAsia's RedQ headquarters, here, today.
Also present were Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and AirAsia executive chairman Datuk Kamarudin Meranun among others.
Najib also praised Fernandes for being the prime mover and prime driver of AirAsia's overall success.
"While he (Fernandes) credits numerous number of staff for the airlines' success, as a CEO he is a living legend himself.
"From starting in 2001 with only two leased Boeing 737s, AirAsia now owns more than 230 Airbus 320 and 330 aircraft and plans to double its fleet size to 500 aircrafts by 2027," he said.
As the CEO of the country, Najib said it is his duty to introduce and implement policies which spurs the growth and sustainability of the private sector.
"The government must act as a facilitator and embark on policies to create, support, and provide an ecosystem for the private sector to thrive on," he added.
Earlier, Fernandes had declared Najib as the "Father of Low Cost Air Travel" for the 2007 move among others which he said helped spur AirAsia's growth into the world's best low-cost airline at present.
He also presented Najib with a replica of an AirAsia aircraft as well as a plaque bearing the title "Father of Low Cost Air Travel".
Meanwhile, in Sepang, Najib said the vision of seeing low-cost air travel in Malaysia become a resounding success for more than a decade had earned him the title “Father of Low Cost Air Travel” among the staff of AirAsia.
Recalling the moment, Najib said AirAsia had proposed to him when he was the deputy Prime Minister in 2007 to help reduce the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) imposed at its former hub the LCCT, here, to RM25 in an effort to spur passenger growth for the low cost airliner.
“I accepted the proposal back then because I could see the potential growth will be generated from low cost air travel.
“I brought it up to the Cabinet and thankfully it was approved then as it enable more people to embark on low cost air travel ,” he said in his speech during the officiating ceremony of AirAsia’s RedQ headquarters, here.