Kuala Lumpur: AirAsia is offering a 50% discount to 12,000 accredited media personnel for travel to 57 destinations across the ASEAN region. This initiative is aimed at promoting integration within the bloc’s 10 member states.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, co-founder of AirAsia and CEO of Capital A Bhd, announced the discount as a gesture of gratitude for the media’s role in the airline’s growth. Fernandes emphasized that media coverage has been integral from AirAsia’s inception as a two-aircraft operation to its current status as a major low-cost carrier with 250 planes.

The initiative was revealed during the National Journalists Day (HAWANA) 2025 celebration, following a request from the Malaysian government to commemorate Malaysia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN. The initiative aims to provide journalists with opportunities to explore and understand other ASEAN countries. Fernandes highlighted the importance of such exchanges in fostering regional integration.

In addition to the disc
ounted travel, AirAsia plans to honor journalists by naming aircraft after them and featuring their images on plane liveries. Fernandes mentioned that this initiative would extend beyond journalists to include musicians, actors, sports personalities, and others who have contributed to ASEAN culture.

The discount campaign aligns with AirAsia’s broader efforts to enhance cultural appreciation and strengthen connectivity across ASEAN. The HAWANA 2025 celebration, themed ‘Journalism in the New Era: Embracing AI, Safeguarding Ethics’, was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and attended by around 1,000 media practitioners. Organised by the Ministry of Communications and implemented by BERNAMA, HAWANA acknowledges the vital role of journalists in national development.