AirAsia

Asia Based Discount Carrier

Air Asia won Best Asian Discount Carrier in 2007 and 2008 and, given the opposition it has faced, that is no mean feat. The region’s aviation market is a mixture of fierce competition and overt protectionism, and the airline has performed miracles to break into previously inaccessible areas.

From the original hub in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this was achieved by offering ridiculously cheap fares. Today, Air Asia flies to over a hundred destinations, including cities in Laos, Indonesia and, with affiliate Thai Air Asia, even Myanmar (that bedrock of democracy previously known as Burma!) .

Prices are low because a ticket buys a) a non-reclining seat, and b) …that’s it. So someone who absolutely will not change their ticket, has less than 7kg of baggage, who doesn’t care where they sit, and won’t be hungry can grab a bargain.

But with a philosophy of “Now Everyone Can Fly”, Air Asia would argue that was the whole point. Search!