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AirAsia flight QZ8501 missing: Q&A - what's the background of AirAsia? AirAsia flight QZ8501 missing: Q&A - what's the background of AirAsia?
(35 minutes later)
Q What’s the background of AirAsia? What’s the background of AirAsia?
The airline is based in Malaysia and has been one of the great aviation success stories - building a south-east Asian version of easyJet, flying a busy, high-frequency network in a highly populated part of the world. It was founded in 2001, in the aftermath of 9/11, by the colourful Malaysian businessman called Tony Fernandes, who’s been given advice and inspiration by Sir Richard Branson. He’s also the majority owner of Queen’s Park Rangers football club and the chain of Tune low-cost hotels. The airline is based in Malaysia and has been one of the great aviation success stories - building a south-east Asian version of easyJet, flying a busy, high-frequency network in a highly populated part of the world. It was founded in 2001, in the aftermath of 9/11, by the colourful Malaysian businessman called Tony Fernandes, who’s been given advice and inspiration by Sir Richard Branson. He’s also the majority owner of Queen’s Park Rangers football club and the chain of Tune low-cost hotels. 
Until no-frills flying took hold in the region, South East Asia was the preserve of national carriers such as Malaysia Airlines and Garuda Indonesia. With Air Asia and its rivals, including Tiger, offering much lower fares, the low-cost revolution caught the public imagination. While a long-haul link between London and Kuala Lumpur was dropped as unprofitable, the airline has thrived on its regional network.Until no-frills flying took hold in the region, South East Asia was the preserve of national carriers such as Malaysia Airlines and Garuda Indonesia. With Air Asia and its rivals, including Tiger, offering much lower fares, the low-cost revolution caught the public imagination. While a long-haul link between London and Kuala Lumpur was dropped as unprofitable, the airline has thrived on its regional network.
It’s a company based in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, but which like easyJet operates right across the region. Because there’s no European-style “open-skies” agreement, it has a number of subsidiaries such as Air Asia Thailand and Indonesia Air Asia - the offshoot that operated flight QZ 8501.It’s a company based in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, but which like easyJet operates right across the region. Because there’s no European-style “open-skies” agreement, it has a number of subsidiaries such as Air Asia Thailand and Indonesia Air Asia - the offshoot that operated flight QZ 8501.
Q What is known about the flight? What is known about the flight?
QZ 8501 was scheduled to depart from Indonesia’s second city, Surabaya, at 5.20am local time, arriving 2 hours 10 minutes later at Singapore, the main aviation hub for South East Asia. There were 155 passengers, two pilots, an engineer and four cabin crew on board. It departed a few minutes late and was in level flight when Indonesian Air Traffic Control lost contact with it 41 minutes into the flight. There have been reports about the pilot having asked for an “unusual” routing - though from the records of Air Traffic Control it appears the crew wanted to deviate from their track and climb to avoid a thunderstorm.QZ 8501 was scheduled to depart from Indonesia’s second city, Surabaya, at 5.20am local time, arriving 2 hours 10 minutes later at Singapore, the main aviation hub for South East Asia. There were 155 passengers, two pilots, an engineer and four cabin crew on board. It departed a few minutes late and was in level flight when Indonesian Air Traffic Control lost contact with it 41 minutes into the flight. There have been reports about the pilot having asked for an “unusual” routing - though from the records of Air Traffic Control it appears the crew wanted to deviate from their track and climb to avoid a thunderstorm.
Q And the aircraft? And the aircraft?
It’s a six-year-old Airbus A320, delivered new in 2008 to Indonesia Air Asia. The A320 model first flew in 1987 and has sold very well since then, with easyJet and British Airways among the airlines that use it. The jet has a formidably good safety record; in its history just seven have been lost in passenger service. The most recent crash was six years ago in Honduras.It’s a six-year-old Airbus A320, delivered new in 2008 to Indonesia Air Asia. The A320 model first flew in 1987 and has sold very well since then, with easyJet and British Airways among the airlines that use it. The jet has a formidably good safety record; in its history just seven have been lost in passenger service. The most recent crash was six years ago in Honduras.
Q The aircraft is the third belonging to airlines based in Malaysia that has been lost in 2014. Is that significant? The aircraft is the third belonging to airlines based in Malaysia that has been lost in 2014. Is that significant?
It has indeed been a tragic year, with the loss - still unexplained - of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in March, the shooting down of flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine in July, and now QZ 8501. But no conclusions can be drawn - the first two disasters were unconnected, and there is no indication that QZ 8501 has any connection apart from that awful coincidence. Whether or not there are survivors from QZ 8501, 2014 has been the worst year of this decade so far in terms of passenger aviation.It has indeed been a tragic year, with the loss - still unexplained - of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in March, the shooting down of flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine in July, and now QZ 8501. But no conclusions can be drawn - the first two disasters were unconnected, and there is no indication that QZ 8501 has any connection apart from that awful coincidence. Whether or not there are survivors from QZ 8501, 2014 has been the worst year of this decade so far in terms of passenger aviation.
Q What possible will investigators be looking for? What possible explanation will investigators be looking for?
Losses of aircraft while in the cruise are unusual, and there will be particular focus on the weather at the time, but the investigators will approach the loss with an open mind.Losses of aircraft while in the cruise are unusual, and there will be particular focus on the weather at the time, but the investigators will approach the loss with an open mind.
Q Air Asia is a budget airline - which could lead to speculation about whether costs were cut in a manner that might endanger safety? AirAsia is a budget airline - could this lead to speculation about whether costs were cut in a manner that might endanger safety?
There is absolutely no evidence that Air Asia or any other low-cost airline has done anything to compromise safety. Until now, Air Asia - like many other budget carriers - has had a faultless safety record.There is absolutely no evidence that Air Asia or any other low-cost airline has done anything to compromise safety. Until now, Air Asia - like many other budget carriers - has had a faultless safety record.