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AirAsia backs uniform travel protocols

• BusinessMirror
• March 5, 2021
• 3 minute read

ASIA’S largest budget carrier Air Asia has joined a number of leading aviation and tourism experts in calling for a standardized approach to travel protocols to help kickstart the international air travel revival.

The call comes in the face of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout across the globe and domestic air travel looks set to return to pre-Covid levels in the near future.

AirAsia Group President (Airlines) Bo Lingam said, “Covid-19 has left a severe impact on everyone and particularly on the travel and hospitality industries. In order to resume cross-border travel activity effectively and safely, a mutually agreed global framework approach is needed.

“Travel requirements in the region are currently complex and uncoordinated and travel bubbles are limited and underutilized. While we welcome the implementation of certain travel passes which are currently being developed or in testing phases, what is needed to stimulate international air travel again, is coordination among countries.

“The travel and tourism industry must work together with one consistent set of protocols and procedures for guests such as testing and vaccination requirements, coupled with a mutually agreed common digital health pass and with the expansion of travel bubbles to include the leisure sector.

“Resuming air travel is a collective effort. By working together we will be in a much better position to welcome the return of international flying in the not too distant future, delivering a much  needed boost to the global economy.”

His comments follow a recent AirAsia review of Covid-19 procedures and protocols in regional countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, China and Australia.

The review confirms that existing travel requirements vary across Asean countries, making it challenging and difficult for travelers to understand and follow. The different travel protocols across regional countries also pose operational difficulties to airlines and travel operators. Without common travel protocols, manual verification of health and travel documents becomes more time-consuming and is prone to error and fraud, especially with an increase in the use of fake health certifications.

“Furthermore, with 40 percent to 50 percent of the regional population expected to be vaccinated by the third quarter of 2021, travel policies should be updated regularly to reflect the current situation including the possible removal of quarantine requirements.

A good example is in the Philippines “where they have recently standardized all the travel requirements in the country and removed the ones that are no longer relevant,” said Bo.

The report also concluded that travel bubbles are currently implemented in the region are mostly limited to business and essential travelers only. Business travelers are less likely to provide a much needed boost to the tourism industry as the majority of corporate meetings can now be conducted online.

A key recommendation is for the expansion of travel bubbles for leisure travelers to be implemented in phases, starting with destinations in safe zones. Facilitating leisure travel will provide instant impact based on strong pent-up demand. Travel risk can also be minimized through implementation of strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and various measures including point-to-point controlled travel, fixed itineraries and contact tracing apps.

AirAsia recently announced its latest innovation Scan2Fly, which enables guests to scan and upload their medical documentation during the online check-in process to confirm they are approved to fly in real time, before heading to the airport. Scan2Fly was rolled out ahead of globally approved digital passports to support AirAsia’s goal of providing a Covid-safe and fully contactless travel experience. Scan2Fly can be seamlessly integrated into other globally approved platforms from different countries, relating to Covid-19 and vaccine solutions.

AirAsia is also soon commencing the rollout of biometric facial recognition technology across key ports, launching in Malaysia’s klia2 from April as it continues to develop new products and services to make flying more hygenic and seamless.

PAL ferries vaccines

Meanwhile, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) said its A320 plane, RP-C8606, airlifted 17,400 doses of Sinovac vaccines to Cagayan de Oro.

Flight PR2519 flew out of Naia at 4:09 a.m. and arrived at Cagayan de Oro’s Laguindingan Airport at 5:22 a.m.

PAL flight RP-C9906 flew 21,600 doses of Sinovac vaccines to Davao, while PR8811took off from Naia at 4:44 a.m. and touched down at Davao airport at 6:08 a.m.

The Manila to Legazpi flight PR2923 departed at 9:14 a.m. with 12,000 doses while Manila to Cotabato flight PR2959 left at 10:32 a.m. with 4,200 doses.

At their destinations, the shipments were loaded onto cold-storage vans for transfer to various hospitals in preparation for the vaccination drive against Covid-19 in the South.

Wednesday’s ‘vaccine flights’ mark the second wave of PAL’s domestic distribution.

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Air Asia accepts vax cards as primary travel requirement

All AirAsia Philippines domestic destinations continue to accept vaccination cards as a primary travel requirement, except for Caticlan, Kalibo, Tacloban, Bacolod, Iloilo and Zamboanga, which now require negative RT-PCR test results taken 72 hours prior to departure, regardless of vaccination status, the airline stated in its latest travel advisory.

Amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila plus (Metro Manila and CALABARZON), the low cost carrier said in a statement Tuesday, Jan. 11, it has elevated its internal COVID-19 response to ensure the safety of employees and guests, optimizing operations to avoid canceling flights.

AirAsia Philippines established a Safety Plus 24/7 Team composed of different department leaders and the People and Culture - Medical team to monitor the health of employees and distribute medication to those who have contracted the virus.

The airline now requires all employees, including those who are working at home, to submit online daily health check forms to monitor their health.

Its flight operations department is also clustering schedules and does regular onsite Antigen tests for flight deck and cabin crew.

“Adequate planning and anticipation are key to mitigating the risks entailed on the unprecedented surge of COVID-19 cases," said AirAsia Philippines Spokesperson Steve Dailisan.

"Thankfully, we initiated the reintegration training of our hibernated staff as early as December and this January, they will complement the requirements for manpower,” he noted.

“Internally, we have added layers in monitoring and clustering among our Allstar frontliners to make sure our flight schedules remain unhampered during these times,” according to Dailisan.

AirAsia Philippines also prioritized securing booster shots for all of its employees who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

On top of this, the airline offered enhanced flexibility among guests who wish to move their flights.

They can avail of the unlimited rebooking option with no change fees by accessing the manage my flight option through the airasia Super App or airasia.com.

However, AirAsia Philippines guests traveling over the next few days should check their flight status and visit the airasia flysafe page for the latest updates on travel requirements.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 12): AirAsia Group Bhd said today the budget airline’s domestic flights in Malaysia remain operational despite the planned implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) across several states and federal territories from tomorrow till Jan 26, 2021 to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic and that guests who do not wish to travel during this period can cancel their flights voluntarily and opt for unlimited flight changes without any additional cost.

"Change to any new travel date before March 31, 2021 on the same route for an unlimited number of times without any additional cost, subject to seat availability,” AirAsia said in a statement today.

For essential travel during this period, AirAsia said guests must obtain a valid approval from the Royal Malaysia Police before departure. 

Guests also need to comply with the specific entry requirements set by certain states, according to the airline.

"We would like to remind all guests with essential travel needs to strictly adhere to the standard operating procedures set out by the government, check all travel requirements and practise a high level of personal hygiene at all times,” it said.

The government has reinstated the MCO in the states of Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Johor and Sabah as well as the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan for a two-week period starting tomorrow.

In a national address yesterday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said these states and federal territories are considered high-risk areas following a risk assessment as well as the evaluation of health services by the Ministry of Health (MoH).

“MoH will continue to undertake risk assessments to decide whether the MCO should end or be extended, before the two-week period is up,” he said. The ban on interstate travel will also be reinstated, the prime minister said.

In 2020, Malaysia's MCO, which was initially scheduled between March 18 and 31 nationwide, required non-essential businesses to stop operations, while the public was ordered to stay at home to curb the Covid-19 outbreak.

On March 25, Muhyiddin said the government decided to extend the MCO until April 14, because updates from the National Security Council and the MoH indicated an increase in Covid-19 cases. 

On April 10, Muhyiddin said the government was extending the MCO until April 28.

On April 23, Muhyiddin said the MCO would be extended for another two weeks until May 12.

On May 4, news reports, quoting Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, indicated that regulations under phase four of the MCO were null and void with the commencement of the conditional movement control order (CMCO) or phase five of the MCO.

Today, AirAsia’s statement on its decision to maintain operations of its domestic flights despite the reenforcement of the MCO across Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Johor and Sabah as well as the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, is different from what the budget airline did when Malaysia’s MCO was initially announced.

On March 26, 2020, AirAsia said in a statement then that in view of the Covid-19 pandemic that had led to extensive and increasing border restrictions imposed by various countries, AirAsia was temporarily hibernating most of its aircraft fleet across the airline’s global network.

AirAsia has operating units in countries including Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia.

For short-haul flights under AirAsia Malaysia, the airline announced a temporary suspension of all international and domestic flights from March 28, 2020 to April 28, 2020.

At Bursa Malaysia’s 12:30pm break today, AirAsia’s share price settled unchanged at 72.5 sen for a market value of about RM2.42 billion. The stock saw some 25 million shares traded.

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• COVID-19 travel advice

Considering travel during the pandemic? Take precautions to protect yourself from COVID-19.

A coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine can prevent you from getting COVID-19 or from becoming seriously ill due to COVID-19 . But even if you're vaccinated, it's still a good idea to take precautions to protect yourself and others while traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you've had all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including boosters, you're less likely to become seriously ill or spread COVID-19 . You can then travel more safely within the U.S. and internationally. But international travel can still increase your risk of getting new COVID-19 variants.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you should avoid travel until you've had all recommended COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses.

Before you travel

As you think about making travel plans, consider these questions:

• Have you been vaccinated against COVID-19 ? If you haven't, get vaccinated. If the vaccine requires two doses, wait two weeks after getting your second vaccine dose to travel. If the vaccine requires one dose, wait two weeks after getting the vaccine to travel. It takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination.
• Have you had any booster doses? Having all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including boosters, increases your protection from serious illness.
• Are you at increased risk for severe illness? Anyone can get COVID-19 . But older adults and people of any age with certain medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 .
• Do you live with someone who's at increased risk for severe illness? If you get infected while traveling, you can spread the COVID-19 virus to the people you live with when you return, even if you don't have symptoms.
• Does your home or destination have requirements or restrictions for travelers? Even if you've had all recommended vaccine doses, you must follow local, state and federal testing and travel rules.

Check local requirements, restrictions and situations

Some state, local and territorial governments have requirements, such as requiring people to wear masks, get tested, be vaccinated or stay isolated for a period of time after arrival. Before you go, check for requirements at your destination and anywhere you might stop along the way.

Keep in mind these can change often and quickly depending on local conditions. It's also important to understand that the COVID-19 situation, such as the level of spread and presence of variants, varies in each country. Check back for updates as your trip gets closer.

Travel and testing

For vaccinated people.

If you have been fully vaccinated, the CDC states that you don't need to get tested before or after your trip within the U.S. or stay home (quarantine) after you return.

If you're planning to travel internationally outside the U.S., the CDC states you don't need to get tested before your trip unless it's required at your destination. Before arriving to the U.S., you need a negative test within the last day before your arrival or a record of recovery from COVID-19 in the last three months.

After you arrive in the U.S., the CDC recommends getting tested with a viral test 3 to 5 days after your trip. If you're traveling to the U.S. and you aren't a citizen, you need to be fully vaccinated and have proof of vaccination.

You don't need to quarantine when you arrive in the U.S. But check for any symptoms. Stay at home if you develop symptoms.

For unvaccinated people

Testing before and after travel can lower the risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 . If you haven't been vaccinated, the CDC recommends getting a viral test within three days before your trip. Delay travel if you're waiting for test results. Keep a copy of your results with you when you travel.

Repeat the test 3 to 5 days after your trip. Stay home for five days after travel.

If at any point you test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 , stay home. Stay at home and away from others if you develop symptoms. Follow public health recommendations.

Stay safe when you travel

In the U.S., you must wear a face mask on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation. The mask must fit snugly and cover both your mouth and nose.

Follow these steps to protect yourself and others when you travel:

• Get vaccinated.
• Keep distance between yourself and others (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters) when you're in indoor public spaces if you're not fully vaccinated. This is especially important if you have a higher risk of serious illness.
• Avoid contact with anyone who is sick or has symptoms.
• Avoid crowds and indoor places that have poor air flow (ventilation).
• Don't touch frequently touched surfaces, such as handrails, elevator buttons and kiosks. If you must touch these surfaces, use hand sanitizer or wash your hands afterward.
• Wear a face mask in indoor public spaces. The CDC recommends wearing the most protective mask possible that you'll wear regularly and that fits. If you are in an area with a high number of new COVID-19 cases, wear a mask in indoor public places and outdoors in crowded areas or when you're in close contact with people who aren't vaccinated.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• If soap and water aren't available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry.
• Don't eat or drink on public transportation. That way you can keep your mask on the whole time.

Because of the high air flow and air filter efficiency on airplanes, most viruses such as the COVID-19 virus don't spread easily on flights. Wearing masks on planes has likely helped lower the risk of getting the COVID-19 virus on flights too.

However, air travel involves spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people. Getting vaccinated and wearing a mask when traveling can help protect you from COVID-19 while traveling.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has increased cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and equipment, including bins, at screening checkpoints. TSA has also made changes to the screening process:

• Travelers must wear masks during screening. However, TSA employees may ask travelers to adjust masks for identification purposes.
• Travelers should keep a distance of 6 feet apart from other travelers when possible.
• Instead of handing boarding passes to TSA officers, travelers should place passes (paper or electronic) directly on the scanner and then hold them up for inspection.
• Each traveler may have one container of hand sanitizer up to 12 ounces (about 350 milliliters) in a carry-on bag. These containers will need to be taken out for screening.
• Personal items such as keys, wallets and phones should be placed in carry-on bags instead of bins. This reduces the handling of these items during screening.
• Food items should be carried in a plastic bag and placed in a bin for screening. Separating food from carry-on bags lessens the likelihood that screeners will need to open bags for inspection.

Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds directly before and after going through screening.

Public transportation

If you travel by bus or train and you aren't vaccinated, be aware that sitting or standing within 6 feet (2 meters) of others for a long period can put you at higher risk of getting or spreading COVID-19 . Follow the precautions described above for protecting yourself during travel.

Even if you fly, you may need transportation once you arrive at your destination. You can search car rental options and their cleaning policies on the internet. If you plan to stay at a hotel, check into shuttle service availability.

If you'll be using public transportation and you aren't vaccinated, continue physical distancing and wearing a mask after reaching your destination.

Hotels and other lodging

The hotel industry knows that travelers are concerned about COVID-19 and safety. Check any major hotel's website for information about how it's protecting guests and staff. Some best practices include:

• Enhanced cleaning procedures
• Physical distancing recommendations indoors for people who aren't vaccinated
• Mask-wearing and regular hand-washing by staff
• Mask-wearing indoors for guests in public places in areas that have high cases of COVID-19
• Vaccine recommendations for staff
• Isolation and testing guidelines for staff who've been exposed to COVID-19
• Contactless payment
• Set of rules in case a guest becomes ill, such as closing the room for cleaning and disinfecting
• Indoor air quality measures, such as regular system and air filter maintenance, and suggestions to add air cleaners that can filter viruses and bacteria from the air

Vacation rentals, too, are enhancing their cleaning procedures. They're committed to following public health guidelines, such as using masks and gloves when cleaning, and building in a waiting period between guests.

Make a packing list

When it's time to pack for your trip, grab any medications you may need on your trip and these essential safe-travel supplies:

• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol)
• Disinfectant wipes (at least 70% alcohol)
• Thermometer

Considerations for people at increased risk

Anyone can get very ill from the virus that causes COVID-19 . But older adults and people of any age with certain medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness. This may include people with cancer, serious heart problems and a weakened immune system. Getting the recommended COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses can help lower your risk of being severely ill from COVID-19 .

Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19 . If you're unvaccinated, staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 . If you must travel and aren't vaccinated, talk with your health care provider and ask about any additional precautions you may need to take.

Remember safety first

Even the most detailed and organized plans may need to be set aside when someone gets ill. Stay home if you or any of your travel companions:

• Have signs or symptoms, are sick or think you have COVID-19
• Are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test
• Have been diagnosed with COVID-19
• Have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 in the past five days and you're not up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines

If you've had close contact with someone with COVID-19 , get tested after at least five days. Wait to travel until you have a negative test. Wear a mask if you travel up to 10 days after you've had close contact with someone with COVID-19 .

• How to protect yourself and others. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Domestic travel during COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Requirement for face masks on public transportation conveyances and at transportation hubs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/face-masks-public-transportation.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• International travel. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel/index.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• U.S citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and immigrants: Travel to and from the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Non-US. citizen, non-U.S. immigrants: Air travel to the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/noncitizens-US-air-travel.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• People with certain medical conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Stay up to date with your vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Pack smart. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/pack-smart. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Travel: Frequently asked questions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/faqs.html. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) information. Transportation Security Administration. https://www.tsa.gov/coronavirus. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• WHO advice for international traffic in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/articles-detail/who-advice-for-international-traffic-in-relation-to-the-sars-cov-2-omicron-variant. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• VRHP/VRMA Cleaning guidelines for COVID-19. Vacation Rental Management Association. https://www.vrma.org/page/vrhp/vrma-cleaning-guidelines-for-covid-19. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• Safe stay. American Hotel & Lodging Association. https://www.ahla.com/safestay. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• Khatib AN, et al. COVID-19 transmission and the safety of air travel during the pandemic: A scoping review. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. 2021; doi:10.1097/QCO.0000000000000771.

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U.S. travel resources

• Check CDC recommendations for travel within the U.S.
• Review testing requirements for travel to the U.S.
• Look up restrictions at your destination .
• Review airport security measures .

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AirAsia suffers painful loss as COVID-19 crisis bites

Airline says travel restrictions collapsed demand for air travel

KUALA LUMPUR -- Low-cost Southeast Asian carrier AirAsia Group reported a 804 million ringgit ($188 million) first-quarter loss on Monday, reversing a 96 million ringgit profit for the same period last year.

Founded by Malaysian tycoon Tony Fernandes, AirAsia attributed the loss to "collapsed demand for air travel" in February and March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

AirAsia to slash workforce by 30%, considers 10% stake sale

Asia needs to resume air travel faster, says airline group head, cathay pacific bailout shows asian airline recovery has a way to go, petronas chief heads to malaysia airlines in state-sector shake-up, thai airways: pandemic delivers final blow to mismanaged carrier, historic loss at singapore airlines showcases asian aviation woes, latest on travel & leisure, china may day travel set to test consumer appetite for spending, niseko gin shows japanese resort offers more than skiing, from kyoto to kamakura, japan braces for new surge in overtourism, sponsored content, about sponsored content this content was commissioned by nikkei's global business bureau..

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How CEO Tony Fernandes and AirAsia are looking to redefine the role of an airline in a post-COVID world

• Headed by Tony Fernandes, budget airline AirAsia has this year accelerated the rollout of its non-airline offerings
• Key to the company's transformation has been the launch of a digital travel and lifestyle platform and superapp
• New digital products and services include e-commerce, last mile delivery, digital payments and an expanded rewards program
• Fernandes believes non-airline revenues will eventually match and then surpass airline revenue
• Because of his work, Business Insider named Fernandes to our annual list of the 10 leaders transforming supply chain in Asia.
• Visit Business Insider's Transforming Business homepage for more stories.

Under the leadership of co-founder and CEO, budget flyer AirAsia has been disrupting the Asia airline industry since operations first began in 2001. The Malaysian company was last year named the world's best low-cost airline at the Skytrax World Airline Awards. This was the 11th consecutive year it had picked up the award.

Despite its pioneering success, AirAsia has in recent years been implementing strategies to pivot toward a unified, all-in-one digital travel and lifestyle platform. Business Insider looks at how Fernandes and AirAsia are looking to redefine the role of an airline in a post-COVID world.

Moving from budget airline to digital travel and lifestyle platform

AirAsia has from the outset put digital and innovation at the heart of its operations. It was, for example, the first airline in the region to focus on selling tickets directly online through its own website, and today around 85% of its customers book directly through its website. 

From 2018, the company saw the potential to drive new revenue streams by building an ecosystem of businesses, all anchored on travel and all leveraging off each other. The arrival of COVID-19 and the subsequent downtime of flights provided the company with the opportunity to fast-track this digital transformation strategy. 

"As I always say you have to evolve or you die in this industry," said Tony Fernandes. "The decision to pivot into a digital travel and lifestyle platform actually commenced in 2018, well before COVID-19 hit. One silver lining of the pandemic was that it allowed us to focus on and fast-track our digital transformation by growing our non-airline businesses which not only provides new revenue streams, but also creates new job opportunities for our staff to be upskilled and pivot into new roles within the company."

The airline saw digital transformation as a natural progression. Pre-COVID-19, the company's website had 60 million monthly visitors, which adds up to a powerful database of  loyal customers. 

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"I've always been a firm believer in the digital revolution," adds Fernandes. "Today, data is king and we realised we had a huge opportunity to extend our own assets and leverage our strong brand in Southeast Asia with our own big and rich data."

Expanding the AirAsia product offering

To facilitate the company's digital transformation, the AirAsia Group split its operations into two main divisions - the airline itself and the digital businesses under ​AirAsia Digital​. Under the digital banner, the company now has four key offerings:

• airasia.com In October, AirAsia re-launched the airasia.com brand around the central concept of enabling its customers to fly, to stay, to shop and to eat, all from the convenience of one platform. There are now 17 lines of business available on the app including airasia food (meal deliveries), airasia fresh (groceries) and airasia shop (retail), powered by AirAsia's logistics arm Teleport. In addition, there is airasia Health, which promotes medical tourism, Islam-compliant service IKHLAS, SNAP (flight and hotel bundles) and more.
• Teleport AirAsia's cargo and logistics division has transformed into a major Southeast Asian e-commerce transportation provider. The entity first focused on a cross-border e-commerce  delivery service, leveraging AirAsia's flight networks to enable businesses to conduct cross-border trade anywhere in Southeast Asia within 24-hours. Adapting to post-COVID reality and recognising customers' preference for home delivery orders, Teleport pivoted once more to concentrate on last-mile deliveries, transporting parcels, restaurant orders and fresh produce from airasia shop, airasia food and airasia fresh. Teleport now has over 5,000 delivery partners, with deliveries available across 70 cities.
• BigPay AirAsia's digital payment service started out life as a simple debit product but now offers money transfers, with remittances available in 10 countries including Malaysia and Singapore. The company says that loans, marketplaces, insurance and wealth products are all in the pipeline, and that BigPay is on track to become Southeast Asia's first virtual bank. BigPay has received a provisional license for lending and users will soon be able to apply for fast loans at low interest rates. ​BigPay is also targeting key digital licences in the Philippines and Thailand. The payment service currently has 1.2 million users. 
• BIG Rewards Already one of Southeast Asia's largest travel and lifestyle rewards platforms with over ​35 million members, BIG Rewards has evolved from an airline loyalty program to a broader lifestyle rewards service, offering points redemption on a range of dining, shopping and entertainment deals. The platform includes BIG Xchange, the first airlines points exchange platform, which allows BIG Members to convert credit card loyalty points from participating banks into BIG Points.

Digital transformation already beginning to pay off

As a result of its accelerated digital transformation , AirAsia says it has seen significant growth in terms of customer base, as well as revenue and other key metrics, for all non-airline business divisions in 2020. According to 2020 third-quarter results, the non-airline subsidiaries grew by 182% and almost all non-airline business divisions are now profitable. 

The company says it expects non-airline revenues to contribute up to 50% of total AirAsia Group revenues in the next three to five years and gradually overtake the airline revenues in the longer term.  

"As I always say, never waste a crisis," says Fernandes. "We have lived through many before and this will be no different. We will use the opportunity to extend our assets and leverage our big and rich data and go places we have never been before. For AirAsia, nothing is off the table anymore. We will consider any opportunity that makes commercial and viable sense. We are already selling flights for other airlines, including our competitors on airasia.com and providing last mile deliveries."

In terms of the future, AirAsia says demand for travel is still huge and that people still want to fly. Noting the pent up demand for travel, the company says it is already seeing with strong demand for our domestic flights in its key markets of Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia and India. 

Given that during an economic downturn, low cost airlines are generally more popular, AirAsia believes it is in a strong position to recover faster than many of its competitors. The company points out that 50% of its traffic is domestic short haul, while the majority of its customers travel for leisure rather than business, both advantageous for fast recovery. In addition, many of its key international markets are in COVID-19 Green Zones, areas that are likely to reopen first. 

"Air travel is here to stay and it will bounce back," says Fernandes. "I do believe we have weathered the storm. The worst is over. Our comeback is the best part of the story and I see this as a never ending story. No virus will kill the spirit of AirAsia. We will continue to innovate, adapt, recover and come back stronger."

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Airlines will now be required to give automatic cash refunds for canceled and delayed flights

FILE - Passenger drop off their baggage at United Airlines in C Terminal at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, in Houston. The Biden administration issued final rules Wednesday, April 24, 2024, to require airlines to automatically issue cash refunds for things like delayed flights and to better disclose fees for baggage or canceling a reservation. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP, File)

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The Biden administration issued final rules Wednesday to require airlines to automatically issue cash refunds for things like delayed flights and to better disclose fees for baggage or canceling a reservation.

The Transportation Department said airlines will be required to provide automatic cash refunds within a few days for canceled flights and “significant” delays.

Under current regulations, airlines decide how long a delay must last before triggering refunds. The administration is removing that wiggle room by defining a significant delay as lasting at least three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international ones.

Airlines still will be allowed to offer another flight or a travel credit instead, but consumers can reject the offer.

The rule will also apply to refunds of checked-bag fees if the bag isn’t delivered within 12 hours for domestic flights or 15 to 30 hours for international flights. And it will apply to fees for things such as seat selection or an internet connection if the airline fails to provide the service.

Complaints about refunds skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as airlines canceled flights and, even when they didn’t, many people didn’t feel safe sharing a plane cabin with other passengers.

Airlines for America, a trade group for large U.S. carriers, noted that refund complaints to the Transportation Department have fallen sharply since mid-2020. A spokesperson for the group said airlines “offer a range of options — including fully refundable fares — to increase accessibility to air travel and to help customers make ticket selections that best fit their needs.”

The group said the 11 largest U.S. airlines issued $43 billion in customer refunds from 2020 through 2023.

The Transportation Department issued a separate rule requiring airlines and ticket agents to disclose upfront what they charge for checked and carry-on bags and canceling or changing a reservation. On airline websites, the fees must be shown the first time customers see a price and schedule.

The rule will also oblige airlines to tell passengers they have a guaranteed seat they are not required to pay extra for, although it does not bar airlines from charging people to choose specific seats. Many airlines now charge extra for certain spots, including exit-row seats and those near the front of the cabin.

The agency said the rule will save consumers more than $500 million a year.

Airlines for America said its members “offer transparency and vast choice to consumers” from their first search.

The new rules will take effect over the next two years. They are part of a broad administration attack on what President Joe Biden calls “junk fees.” Last week, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that his department will let state officials in 15 states help enforce federal airline consumer protection laws .

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