http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/8/7/business/20120807173422&sec=business
JAKARTA: AirAsia group officially launched AirAsia asean here on Tuesday, which will be the low-cost carrier's regional base to expand into Southeast Asia.
AirAsia said the launch reaffirmed the group's commitment to the Asean region which it considered home. The launch also coincided with the eve of the 45th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
It said in a statement that with its new regional base, AirAsia strengthened its position as the Asean airline.
AirAsia asean was set up as part of the group's regional expansion strategy, which included six airlines, five of which were anchored in Asean. They are the short-haul carriers AirAsia Malaysia, AirAsia Thailand, AirAsia Indonesia, AirAsia Philippines and AirAsia Japan, and the long-haul carrier AirAsia X.
Group CEO of AirAsia, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and deputy group CEO Datuk Kamarudin Meranun will be based at the AirAsia asean office.
Fernandes said AirAsia's regional base in Jakarta would help it to more fully deliver on its pledge “Now everyone can fly” to all the people of Asean and beyond.
“We are blessed to be located in a part of the world where economic growth is expected to be sustained despite the chilly economic winds blowing through Europe and the United States.
“Shifting AirAsia's emphasis to a regional strategy is, we believe, not just good business, but also a move that will keep us ahead of the inevitable competition that is heading our way," Fernandes said.
AirAsia asean would prepare the group for the implementation of the Asean Open Skies policy and the Asean Economic Community.
"AirAsia asean will help ensure that our voice, our concerns and our appeals are heard much more clearly in the corridors of power with ASEAN. One of the reasons for locating the office in Jakarta is to help us engage more closely with the Asean Secretariat, which is headquartered here," Fernandes said.
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