What it does: Operates an airline that flies over 380 routes across Asia and the Pacific.
Best known for: Its low-cost carrier flights.
Staff stats: Up to 10,000 employees in its headquarters in Malaysia and offices in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, India, and Japan.
The good bits: Airplane ticket discounts, healthcare, and life insurance, and maternity and paternity leave is offered to employees.
The not so good bits: Most of the employees in the company have to put in long hours due to the fact that most departments are understaffed, some are even expected to be on-call 24/7, even in holidays.
AirAsia was established by a government-owned automotive corporation, DRB-HICOM in 1993. In 2001, after garnering USD 11 million in debt, Tony Fernandes and Kamarudin Meranun's Tune Air Sdn Bhn bought AirAsia and turned it into one of the fastest-growing airlines in Asia. The company launched routes in its hub in Kuala Lumpur in 2002, and opened a second hub in Senai International Airport in 2003, going after the former monopoly of Malaysia Airlines.
In the following year, the company opened its affiliate office in Thailand and began flying to Singapore and Indonesia. In 2004, AirAsia started offering flights to Macau, mainland China, and the Philippines. Flights to Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei, and Myanmar followed in 2005.
As of 2007, AirAsia had a passenger volume of 13.9 million. In 2008, the company opened 106 new routes. In 2013, AirAsia's profits increased by 168% compared to 2012 when the company earned MYR 350.65 million, in 2013 alone, despite the rise in fuel price. In the years that followed, AirAsia expanded to offer flights in India. Today, AirAsia is still known as the low-cost airline that enables passengers to fly to domestic and foreign destinations for a cheaper price.
AirAsia, much like other airlines in the region, work in a multicultural workplace. Employees may find themselves working with different nationalities and this enables them to learn about different work cultures as this varies from one country to another.
AirAsia initiated the #Green24 movement that aims to educate people and promote action against the effects of climate change. As a company, they have made changes in their flights and operations that would help reduce their contribution to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
The company has also donated over MYR 650,000 to non-profit organisations that help ameliorate people from poverty and malnutrition.
AirAsia's offices have a cosmopolitan vibe to it as it is composed of people from different backgrounds and cultures.
AirAsia has different recruitment processes for cabin crew applicants and those applying for a position in different departments within the company.
The cabin crew interview can be two days long because of the volume of applicants that are applying on the same day. Applicants must bring their CVs and go through a series of checks. Height and weight, background checks, a physical appearance test and a phone interview that will test applicants' English language proficiency. After these tests, applicants will be placed in groups of 10 as they sit down with an HR officer.
During this activity, the group will be given tasks that will test how well each individual works with others. After the group activity is the final interview with HR. Chosen candidates will get a job offer on-site.
As for those applying for other departments in AirAsia, the recruitment process is split into two parts—general and technical. The first interview is with technical leads and is all about the applicants' technical knowledge. The second interview is with managers and is about applicants' previous work and experience. The third interview is with a panel of managers. During this interview, applicants will be asked general situational questions.
When applying for positions in other departments, applicants must observe their mannerisms at all times as this is a part of the management's assessment. The entire recruitment process can take a day at least.
AirAsia is the kind of company that rebuilt itself from a multi-million-dollar debt and is still projecting growth through the years. Known as the low-cost airline, AirAsia may not offer the most competitive salary package for its employees, but it brings an immersive work experience to its employees.
Today, the company is looking for leaders who will stay with AirAsia for a long time and help lead AirAsia to become one of the best airlines in the region. Since the salary package is not as competitive as other airlines in the world, junior executives often find greener pastures in bigger airlines. But for those in the travel industry who intend to stay as close to their homes as possible, AirAsia is the right employer.
Interns at AirAsia earn at least MYR 800 per month while entry-level employees in the company earn up to MYR 1,400 per month. Employees in more technical departments are paid at least MYR 2,300 per month while department heads earn at least MYR 3,400 a month.