SEPANG, March 1 ― AirAsia has done Malaysia proud by expanding from a home-grown brand into a global name, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.

He said he was impressed by the budget airline’s rapid growth from two aircraft to over 230 and from carrying 200,000 to the expected 89 million passengers this year.

"AirAsia’s growth has been nothing short of phenomenal, from its humble beginnings into a world brand and the final word on low-cost airlines,” Najib said at the official launch of RedQ, AirAsia’s headquarters here.

"AirAsia has made good on its promise by realising its tagline ‘now everyone can fly’. People will see the world and the world will see the nation.”

The prime minister said AirAsia continued to play a vital role in the tourism industry, pointing out that the government’s significant investments into promoting Malaysia would have no impact without the means for tourists to get into the country.

"As part of the Tourism Transformation Plan, Malaysia aims to welcome 36 million tourists with a revenue of RM168 billion by 2020,” said Najib.

"That is why in the recent Budget (2018), the government dedicated significant resources to promote and improve facilities.

"But all of this means nothing if tourists cannot get here easily and within their means. This is where AirAsia and the connectivity it provides into Malaysia plays a critical role.”

Najib also commended the airline for its ability to effectively integrate the latest technology to provide travellers with a smooth and seamless experience, beating other industry players.

He added that AirAsia was the first to implement self-service facilities including check-in kiosks, self-bag tags and self bag drop machines, leading the way in airline self-service options.

"Most recently, it unveiled its Fast Airport Clearance Experience System (FACES), Malaysia’s first airport facial recognition system with self-boarding gate at the Senai International Airport in Johor, making it the first airline in Asia to attempt a seamless travel experience,” he said, adding that the pilot scheme could be scaled up for national use.

"With all this focus and technology solutions in its operations, I am not surprised to learn of AirAsia’s aim to be a major tech player in its own right. As I understand, the plan is to consolidate the digital businesses under an entity called RedBeat Ventures...this is indeed a smart move.”