AirAsia was founded in 1993, but didn’t commence operations until November 1996. It initially operated leased Boeing 737-300 aircraft from its Kuala Lumpur International Airport base to domestic and regional destinations around the Far East, modelling itself on the growing importance of low cost “no frills” carriers which were emerging in the USA and Europe.

The first subsidiaries of the airline emerged in 2004 when Thai AirAsia began operating from Bangkok to various international destinations.

A long haul subsidiary, AirAsia X was also opened in 2007, offering low cost long-haul travel using Airbus A340-300 aircraft, which flew to Australia, France and the United Kingdom.

There are nine affiliated airlines which operate under the AirAsia brand in addition to the parent Malaysian airline.

The brand has highly recognizable branding that greatly helped the company remind customers of its accessibility and competitive pricing, and imprint its slogan in the minds of people across the region: “Now everyone can fly”.

According to airportspotting