Together with its affiliates in Indonesia and Thailand, AirAsia operates the Airbus A320 aircraft for its entire route network throughout the region. Currently, both the Malaysia and Thailand operations are fully Airbus, while the Indonesia operations will be 100% Airbus by end of 1Q 2012.

AirAsia’s 100^th ‘dragon’ in the sky was brought to life by AirAsia’s Group CEO, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes with an eye-dotting ceremony to complete the dragon, in accordance to ancient myth. The celebration was also attended by AirAsia Berhad’s Chairman, Dato’ Aziz Bakar; Deputy Group CEO, Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun; member of board of directors; Dato’ Fam Lee Ee; CEO of AirAsia X, Mr Azran Osman-Rani, and Regional Commercial Head, Kathleen Tan.

AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes says, “We started with only two aircraft ten years ago, and here we stand today with our 100^th Airbus A320, making us the largest Airbus A320 aircraft operator in Southeast Asia. We have weathered many challenges, persevering in the most difficult of situations. This milestone underlines AirAsia’s commitment to continue to invest in new aircraft for the benefit of our customers”.

“AirAsia is proud and excited to receive our 100^th Airbus A320. The delivery comes timely as we usher the year of dragon, and what better way to celebrate this momentous arrival than having a bold dragon livery that depicts strength and good fortune, which is also our Group CEO, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes’ chinese zodiac. The use of this Chinese mythical dragon also reiterates the potential of the Chinese market for AirAsia, with Chinese travelers being the second highest nationality after Malaysians to travel on our route network,” says Kathleen Tan, Regional Commercial Head, AirAsia.

As part of the celebration, AirAsia is running a ‘Celebrate Our 100^th Airbus’ promotion, with all-in-fares to selected destinations from as low as RM30 one way. Guests are able to travel to domestic and international cities such as Guilin, Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Penang, Langkawi, Johor Bahru, Sandakan, Bali, Phuket, Hatyai, Hanoi, Clark and many others with this promotion.

The long-haul low fare affiliate of AirAsia, AirAsia X will also run a parallel promotional offer to commemorate the 100^th Airbus with all-in fares from as low as RM250 to Australia (Melbourne, Perth, Gold Coast, Sydney), from RM200 to China (Chengdu, Hangzhou, Tianjin), from RM250 to Japan (Tokyo, Osaka), from RM280 to Korea (Seoul) and Taiwan (Taipei) and from as low as RM550 to New Zealand (Christchurch). The promotion period is available for booking from 2 – 14 February 2012, for the travel period of 1 May – 30 June 2012 via www.airasia.com.

Guests who book with AirAsia’s global loyalty card, BIG, will be rewarded with 2,888 BIGGIES (loyalty points) for China destinations, and 888 BIGGIES for the other destinations that are featured in this promotion. There will also no longer be processing fees from 2 February 2012 onwards for guests who make payment with the BIG prepaid Visa card, which is only available to Malaysians for now. Guests can sign up for the BIG card at www.tune2big.com.

A team of 20 painters worked around the clock for 12 days to paint the Airbus A320 in the colours of the dragon. Approximately 600 litres of paint were required to complete the job.

The aircraft, which will operate on the Kuala Lumpur-Macau route right after it is launched, will also serve Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Singapore, Hong Kong, cities in Indonesia, and destinations throughout China on its aircraft rotation.

The dragon livery is the most recent addition to AirAsia’s numerous aircraft with special liveries such as the Bo Rocks and Dato’ Pahamin liveries, as tribute to the Chief Operating Officer (Bo Lingam) and ex-chairman’s (Dato’ Pahamin) contributions to AirAsia; Amazing AirAsia livery; Truly Asean livery to celebrate 2009’s ASEAN Day; Zoom Malaysia livery in support of Tourism Malaysia’s initiatives to promote the country;  Dato’ Lat’s livery, to recognize the Malaysian talent; Asean Basketball League livery; Tun Mahathir livery to thank the visionary leader for his contribution to our nation; and the Oakland Raiders livery, amongst many others.

AirAsia currently has 58 Airbus A320 based in four hubs in Malaysia, 22 aircraft based in three hubs in Thailand, 18 aircraft based in five hubs throughout Indonesia and two more aircraft in Clark, Philippines.

Welcomed by the organizers of the event, Mr. Rathian Srimongkol, President and CEO, “KTC” or Krungthai Card Public Company Limited (middle right) Ms. Duangkamol Chotana, President, Krungthep Turakij Media Company Limited (middle left), MasterCard, the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion and Nok Air. The event took place at Aksara Theatre, King Power Complex, Rang Nam Road, recently.

Long term glacier observer and General Manager Tourism for Aoraki Mount Cook Alpine Village Ltd, Denis Callesen said he believed today’s calving would again have moved around 30 million tonnes of ice – around the same amount as last February.

“It was an absolutely magnificent event. A huge chunk of ice has literally broken away from the terminal face, and then fractured into dozens of icebergs. This is the first time that a calving has occurred across the whole 650m-wide terminal face,” said Mr Callesen.

“It’s an amazing and enormous natural phenomenon.”

The calving means Glacier Explorer guests are assured superb viewing conditions on Lake Tasman and an extraordinary view of nature in action for at least the rest of this season.

Photographers have only several hours to capture images of the crystal-clear ‘blue ice’ on the base of an iceberg, hidden beneath the surface for more than 300 years, before it oxidizes on exposure to air and turns white.

Visitors will see blue ice every day for several months, as from the dozens of new icebergs, one or two will roll over every day as they maintain their equilibrium of 10% above and 90% below the water surface.

For more information visit: www.glacierexplorers.com

*Basal iceberg or ‘growler’ means the action has come from below the water surface, while Block has come from above water level.

Photo shows: Mr. Pierre Andre Pelletier showing the plate among the hotel management

China will run for a total of three months at three of the most popular outlets of the restaurant. During the promotion, it will offer a special Thai cuisine menu besides their regular menu and at the of every fortnight there will be a lucky draw wherein the winner will be awarded a 2 nights stay at the Lebua at the State Tower along with 2 return tickets for which we have partnered with IndiGo Airlines.

The second lucky draw was held on 13th January 2012.
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Napalai Areesorn (4^th from left), Editor-in-chief of Thailand Tatler recently launched ‘the 2012 Soiety and Expat Society Magazines’ with the red carpet theme party and an all star fashion show of Fendi, Kenzo and Pucci featuring Ardhawadee Jiramaneekul, Boonyapha Bencharongkul, Pavarisa Phenjati, Saarunthorn Techaphaiboon, Toey Mahadumrongkul, Tipanan Krairiksh Srifuengfung and Unchisa Vacharaphol at Infinity Ballroom, Pullman Bangkok King Power.

Picture from left:

1. Saarunthorn Techaphaiboon

2. Pavarisa Phenjati

3. Ardhawadee Jiramaneekul

4. Napalai Areesorn, Editor-in-chief of Thailand Tatler

5. Tipanan Krairiksh Srifuengfung

6. Boonyapha Bencharongkul

7. Toey Mahadumrongkul

8. Unchisa Vacharaphol

Rembrandt Hotel

Starting the night was a welcome speech from Rembrandt’s GM Eric Hallin followed by a thank you speech from Ambassador Douglas Gibson. The party was also to thank three of the most famous chefs from South African including Chef Nicola Anne Gibbs, Chef Thuli Mabunda and Chef Vusi Mtombela who were on display specially catering the event as the final of the highlight of the South African Food and Wine Festival.

Joining the party were H. E. Lazaro Herrera Martínez, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, H. E. Jorge Chen, Ambassador of the United Mexican States, Swiss Ambassador H.E Christine Schraner Burgener, H. E. Javier Andrés Becker Marshall, Ambassador of the Republic of Chile, H. E. Mr. Paulo Cesar Meira de Vasconcellos, Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Khun Abha and ML Laksasubha Kridakon, Emirates Manager Thailand & Indonesia Khalid Bardan, SA -Thai Chamber of Commerce Director Allan Riddell and honor guests for the illustrious evening of food, wine and great fun at the Rembrandt Hotel.

The Lucky draw for participants in the South African Food & Wine Festival also took place at the party and the winner recieved a roundtrip ticket to Johannesburg sponsored by Emirates Airlines and 3 nights at Misty Hills Country Hotels and a dinner for two at the Carnivore restaurant and an additional 3 nights at Sandton Sun Hotel.

(Top row left to right) Ambassador of Pakistan H.E. Sohail Mahmood , Ambassador of Australia H.E. James Wise, Ambassador of Bangladesh H.E. Kazi Imtiaz Hossain, South African Ambassador H.E Douglas Gibson, Ambassador of the United Mexican States H. E. Jorge Chen, Ambassador of Israel H.E. Itzhak Shoham, Chargé d’affaires of Saudi Arabia Mr.Nabil H. Ashri

(Bottom row left to right) Ambassador of Hungary H.E. Denes Tomaj, Ambassador of the Republic of Chile H. E. Javier Andrés Becker Marshall, Ambassador of Spain H.E. Ignacio Sagaz, Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil H. E. Mr. Mr. Jorge Eduardo Chen Charpentier, Ambassador of Singapore H.E. Peter Chan Jer Hing, Ambassador of Nigeria H.E. Umaru Azores Sulaiman, Ambassador of Switzerland H.E Christine Schraner Burgener and Ambassador of Poland H.E. Dr Jerzy Bayer.

Ambassadors Douglas Gibson took the opportunity to thank all Excellencies and honored guests for joining the party at Rembrandt Hotel.

Rembrandt’s General Manager Eric Hallin gave a welcome speech to distinguished guests

South African inspired food