AirAsia continues spreading its wings, but for how long?

While older Asian airlines such as Malaysian and Qantas struggle, AirAsia, just ten years old, continues to conquer the skies. Last year it carried 30m passengers, yet their numbers are still growing at around 10% a year, and profits are healthy.

The opening of the office in Jakarta marks the start of the next phase of its expansion plans….the new base from which it hopes to dominate South-East Asia, with its 600m people, and beyond.

One day AirAsia may face a serious challenge from one of the region’s other young and ambitious carriers, such as Tiger Airways or Jetstar Asia (both operating out of Singapore), the Philippines’ Cebu Pacific or Indonesia’s Lion Air. But for now they are trailing in its wake.