TONY FERNANDES WINS EY ASEAN ENTREPRENEURIAL EXCELLENCE AWARD

SINGAPORE, October 22, 2016: AirAsia co-founder and Group CEO Tony Fernandes has won the 2016 Ernst & Young Asean Entrepreneurial Excellence Award for his contribution to the region.

He received the award at a gala dinner at the Ritz Carlton Millennia here last night.

The accolade is awarded annually to Asean entrepreneurs who have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit, financial performance, strategic direction, global or community impact, innovation and personal integrity or influence.

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said, "It is a great honour to be recognised by Ernst & Young. An entrepreneur is only as good as his people though and I would like take this opportunity to thank the 17,000 AirAsia Allstars who made it all possible. They help me turn my dream into reality every day through their hard work, dedication, and attention to quality. This award is for you, Allstars."

He added, "Believe in the unbelievable, never take no for an answer, dare to dream big. Too many people are too afraid of failing so they dream small. Take small steps, certainly, but dream big. That way, if you try and miss, you're that much closer to where you want to be. And at least when you’re 60, you won't look back on your life and regret not taking any chances."

Max Loh, EY Asean and Singapore Managing Partner, Ernst & Young LLP said, "From being an auditor to a music executive before buying over a loss-making airline, turning it around and transforming AirAsia to become an award-winning low-cost carrier, Tony’s entrepreneurial journey is truly distinctive and inspiring. AirAsia has helped to boost intra-regional connectivity and bring the world closer to Southeast Asia with its network. This has had a significant positive impact on the region’s movement of trade and people, as well as labor opportunities - exemplifying the far-reaching socio-economic contributions that a single entrepreneur can have as a game-changing industry leader."

AirAsia is Asia's largest low-cost carrier by passengers carried and jet fleet, and boasts an extensive network of more than 120 destinations across Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Africa.

AirAsia was named World's Best Low-Cost Airline for the eighth year in a row and AirAsia X won the World's Best Low-Cost Premium Cabin and Premium Seat for the fourth straight year at the 2016 Skytrax World Airline Awards.

For its exemplary inflight service, AirAsia was also awarded the title of Asia's Leading Inflight Service at the recent World Travel Awards, beating full-service carriers in the region and replicating its historic achievement last year when it became the first ever low-cost carrier to win Asia's Leading Cabin Crew.