AirAsia nears 50 million annual passenger/200 aircraft milestones, having transformed Asian aviation

AirAsia ended 2014 having carried about 50 million annual passengers and with a fleet of nearly 200 aircraft across its portfolio of eight airlines. Nearly 280 million passengers have flown on AirAsia since its launch at the end of 2001.

AirAsia has had perhaps the most remarkable run by any airline in history and almost single-handedly shaken up Asia's aviation industry. The LCC penetration rate within Southeast Asia is now nearly 60% compared to near zero in 2001.

AirAsia becomes the first airline brand in Asia outside China to carry 50 million passengers in a year. As a yardstick of its global scale, only 10 airline brands globally are currently in the 50 million passenger club.