AWAIR changes name to Indonesia AirAsia

The Jakarta Post Jakarta

AWAIR announced on Wednesday it had changed its name to Indonesia AirAsia, in a move that will help the low-cost carrier capitalize on the goodwill and name recognition generated by shareholder AirAsia, the successful Malaysian-based no-frills airline.

The name change was approved during a shareholders' meeting in September and will take effect on Dec. 1, president director Sendjaja Widjaja said on Wednesday.

As part of this new strategy, all domestic and regional flights to, from and in Indonesia, previously operated on separate accounts by AWAIR and AirAsia, will be integrated under Indonesia AirAsia.

Indonesia AirAsia has already begun replacing the old AWAIR logo with the new Indonesia AirAsia logo on all of its marketing and promotional materials, as well as on its aircraft.

"Our passengers will fly on airplanes bearing the Indonesia AirAsia logo starting on Dec. 1," publicity and promotions executive Jovita Sadikin said.

Indonesia AirAsia currently operates four Boeing 737-300 serving six domestic routes and an international route to Kuala Lumpur.

It has flown more than 630,000 passengers as of November 2005.

The company plans to add six planes to its fleet next year and to operate 30 planes by 2010.

"With this makeover we will continue to improve the quality of our services as the first low-cost airline in Indonesia," Sendjaja said.

AirAsia bought a 49 percent stake in the nearly bankrupt AWAIR in December last year, making it the single largest shareholder.

AirAsia operates both domestically and regionally.