KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes has been named one of the top 100 most influential people for Japan by the Nikkei Business magazine.
Fernandes is the first Malaysian and one of three non-Japanese to make it to the list, shortlisted from recommendations by various business leaders in Japan. The other two nominees are Apple founder Steve Jobs and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk. The “Top 100 Most Influential People for Japan” list recognises those who have significantly contributed to the Japanese market.
Fernandes said it was a great honour to be on the list. “Ten years have passed since I began my aviation journey and it brings me joy to know that the low-cost carrier impact started by the AirAsia brand is felt throughout the region. “Japan is a market that is waiting to flourish and AirAsia Japan will be there to fulfil the pent-up demand to travel,” he said.
AirAsia Japan Co, the start-up airline backed by the region's biggest low-cost carrier, will add long-distance flights in 2013 to lure passengers with fares as much as two-thirds cheaper than traditional carriers. The new airline is partly owned by All Nippon Airways Co (ANA).
“AirAsia Japan is set to be an industry changer when we start operating and I am glad to be working with great people in ANA, especially Shinichiro Ito and Kazuyuki Iwakata, to make air travel affordable for all in Japan,” said Fernandes.
-thestar online.
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