KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 11): Low-cost carrier AirAsia Bhd bagged two awards at the 2017 World Travel Awards (WTA) Grand Final in Vietnam yesterday, namely the World's Leading Low-Cost Airline — for the fifth year in a row — and the inaugural World's Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew.

AirAsia emerged top in the category having received the highest votes from travel professionals and industry players from around the world, beating other airlines in the likes of Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, Ryanair, easyJet, Jetstar Airways, Norwegian Air, West Air, flydubai, Air Arabia, flynas, kulula, Mango and fastjet.

"I am very proud to stand here today to receive our fifth WTA World's Leading Low-Cost Airline award in as many years. I've always said we are the world's true low-cost champion, and I'm thrilled to see I'm not the only one and the industry agrees with me," said AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said in a statement today.

"And we will only get better as we continue on our digitalisation journey to better understand what our guests want and to make flying a richer, more enjoyable experience, as we continue to strive to provide world-class service at the lowest fares," Fernandes added.

The winning of the Cabin Crew award builds on AirAsia's success earlier this year when it secured WTA's first ever Asia's Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew award and in 2015, when it became the first ever low-cost carrier to win Asia's Leading Cabin Crew, ahead of full service carriers such as Singapore Airlines, Korean Air and Cathay Pacific.

"An airline is only as good as its people, and we have some of the best. Two years ago, we were named Asia's Leading Cabin Crew by WTA, beating a field of full-service carriers. Since then, we've gone from strength to strength, winning the World's Leading Inflight Service award in 2016, Asia's Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew earlier this year and now, the first ever World's Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew award by WTA," AirAsia Group cabin crew head Suhaila Hassan said.

"This shows our unwavering commitment to excellence, and as the world's best low-cost carrier, we promise to continue delivering to our guests onboard the best experience money can't buy," she added.

Established in 1993, the WTA is one of the most prestigious, comprehensive and sought after awards programme in the global travel and tourism industry.

The WTA acknowledges, rewards and celebrates excellence across key sectors of travel, tourism and hospitality industries, and is now recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.

At 11.14am, AirAsia rose 1.24% or 4 sen to RM2.26 with 1.56 million shares done.