Kuala Lumpur – AirAsia, the world’s best low cost carrier for five consecutive years, retains its number one spot in the ‘Top 10 Budget Airlines’ category of Smart Travel Asia’s 2013 Best in Travel Poll.

AirAsia, also ranked number one in 2012, was chosen as the top budget airline in Asia based on the airline’s significant and distinguishable branding which places the airline at the top of travellers’ minds with its unmistakable presence.

Votes for the overall poll were submitted by Smart Travel Asia readers, with approximately 70 percent of them based in Asia (Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and the Middle East); 15 percent in the United Kingdom and Europe; and 15 percent in USA and North America.

Their decisions–the basis of AirAsia’s top ranking–are based on substantial hands-on travel experience, word-of-mouth, as well as an idea of the brand drawn from advertising and editorial exposure in the media.

AirAsia Group Chief Commercial Officer, Siegtraund Teh said, “It is truly a great honour for AirAsia to be ranked number one in Smart Travel Asia’s 2013 Best in Travel Poll ‘Top 10 Budget Airlines’ category, and we thank everyone who made this possible. Strong branding is our forte, but it is only achievable by ensuring utmost satisfaction when guests fly with us. Only then, the ultimate goal of brand retention could be achieved. We shall continue to strive hard, to ensure that our guests get the best value when flying with AirAsia.”

AirAsia has been voted tops in the Best Budget Airline in Asia category since it was first introduced in 2006. As a pioneer in the low-cost carrier industry in Asia, AirAsia has set travel trends with many others following in its trail throughout the region. The airline has operations based in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, servicing 85 destinations across 21 countries, with AirAsia India in the pipeline.

The airline operates one of the youngest fleet of Airbus A320 in the world and offers consumer-friendly products and services complemented with everyday low fares, extensive route network and great flight frequencies; along with convenient booking and payment channels and value added services such as hot meals, seat allocations and baggage allowances.

The airline has flown over 180 million guests since it was established 11 years ago, with a mission to democratize air travel in the region and has been operationally profitable from day one of its launch as a low-cost carrier.

Smart Travel Asia is the region’s only dedicated online travel magazine with over one million readers worldwide, offering review-based editorial to help people make the choices best for them. The 2013 Best in Travel Poll–in its ninth year–is a representation of its readers’ perceptions and favourite travel brands.

About the AirAsia Group

AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, services the most extensive network with 85 destinations. Within 11 years of operations, AirAsia has carried over 180 million guests and grown its fleet from just two aircraft to over 137. The airline today is proud to be a truly Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) airline with established operations based in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines servicing a network stretching across all Asean countries as well as China, India and Australia.

AirAsia was named the World’s Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax for five consecutive years from 2009 – 2013.