TOP HONOURS: AirAsia Singapore CEO Logan Velaitham (third left) and AirAsia regional head of Cargo Sathis Manoharen (fifth right) poses with the AirAsia Cargo team at Payload Asia Awards 2012 ceremony in Singapore.
KUCHING: AirAsia Bhd’s cargo division, AirAsia Cargo, has been awarded the ‘Rising Star Carrier of the Year’ accolade at the Payload Asia Awards 2012.
In its press statement, the airline noted that AirAsia Cargo was selected by Payload Asia as the award winner, defeating other finalists such as Delta Airlines and Saudia Cargo.
The selection was based on the airline’s ‘exceptional network growth and development strategy, operational performance, customer service and product innovations and its market responsiveness and adaptability’.
“The award win reflects the strength of our brand in the air cargo segment. Although we are relatively new, we have established value-added services and become a leader of innovation in various aspects,” the press statement added.
AirAsia Singapore chief executive officer, Logan Velaitham congratulated his cargo team which is headed by Sathis Manoharen, stressing that the company was honoured to have won the award from the Singapore-based Payload Asia.
“Winning this award proves that AirAsia is gaining greater foothold in the aviation industry and will continue to contribute towards economic growth in the Asean region and beyond with our long-haul affiliate, AirAsia X,” added Logan.
AirAsia and AirAsia X regional head of Cargo, Sathis Manoharen also said, “This award is a testimony of belief by our valued customers in our upward trajectory in growth, both in service and efficiency levels.
“Our flown-as-booked figures, a measure of delivery efficiency, are higher than the industry standard.
“We challenge conventional wisdom that low cost carriers (LCC) are not able to engage cargo as a revenue stream, due to the perceived acute turnaround time.”
According the press statement, AirAsia identified cargo as a major revenue-generating channel and a huge contributor to its ancillary income. The airline was optimising the potential of its aircraft belly space to bring in revenue, by offering cargo services at rates considerably lower than its competitors.
AirAsia was also strengthening cargo operations in part to protect its bottom line against fluctuations in fuel prices, actively engaging with more cargo agents and sizable export-import firms in the markets that AirAsia flies to.