(L to R)
Preechaya Rasametanin, Thai AirAsia’s Director of Engineering; Carabao’s
Thierry, Add and Lek and Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia.
Tony Malhotra
Thai AirAsia last week dedicated one of their fleet’s
Airbuses in celebration of legendary rock band, Carabao’s 30 year anniversary.
Tassapon
Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia, talks about the promotion.
Gathering at the Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel, AirAsia
officials announced that they have painted one of their brand new Airbus A320
passenger jets and dedicated it to Carabao.
The Airbus A320 will fly between AirAsia’s 10 domestic
destinations to promote Carabao’s upcoming concerts nationwide.
As part of the celebration, passengers will also be able to
win collector’s items and redeem a free concert ticket by presenting their
AirAsia boarding passes at all 10 AirAsia airport counters nationwide.
“AirAsia and Carabao have something very much in common, such
as the ability to win the hearts of many people by simply being fun, friendly,
and approachable. AirAsia is extremely proud to be part of this historic
celebration for such a legendary band,” says Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai
AirAsia.
The relationship between Carabao and Thai AirAsia began about
8 years ago when Thai AirAsia first started domestic flights in Thailand.
Carabao’s logo was painted onto some of the fleet, which they hoped passengers
would come to realize meant that ‘everyone can fly’. The message was boosted by
the theme song written by the band’s guitarist and singer Thierry Mekwattana.
The
beautiful Thai AirAsia crew.
AirAsia has painted one of their brand new Airbus A320s to
promote Carabao’s One Province One Concert (OPOC) initiative, where they will
perform at all 76 provinces throughout Thailand. The tour started on April 1 and
will run until December 15 this year.
Apart from offering the rock band’s fans a chance to travel
on the new jet, AirAsia is also offering a special dish - chicken in brown sauce
and pepper with rice, cooked according to Lek Carabao’s secret recipe. The dish
has been offered since March and has quickly become a best seller onboard.
“AirAsia is confident that the band’s 30 year anniversary
will be celebrated with great enthusiasm all year and we are delighted to be
able to spread the joy for the millions of fans by offering flights to concert
destinations along with activities throughout the country,” Tassapon added.
According to Preechaya Rasametanin, Thai AirAsia’s Director
of Engineering, who supervised the entire painting project, “This plane truly
represents the Carabao band as the artists themselves, Lek Carabao, Add Carabao
and Thierry Mekwattana, whose faces are painted on the plane’s tail, were also
involved in the creative decisions and elements that went into the plane’s
design.
“The engineering team put great effort into making this a
beautiful design for the fans and much attention was given to detail. It’s quite
exciting that this plane will now be appearing in all of AirAsia’s
destinations,” Preechaya said.
Towards the end of the press conference, Lek Carabao
demonstrated his signature dish, sharing his mother-in-law’s recipe for chicken
in brown sauce and pepper with rice for all the press to taste.
Shortly after, the entire entourage proceeded to the tarmac
to see for the first time, the newly painted jet.
To celebrate the historic occasion, AirAsia’s 30 year Carabao
promotion starts at THB 730 per person, one way, for domestic flights (including
tax and fees). For more information, please visit www.AirAsia.com.
For flight and hotel package deals starting from THB 2,330
per person for a 3-day, 2-night stay, please visit www.AirAsiaGo.com
Carabao fans can also visit www.carabao30.com for the band’s tour and concert
schedule.
Lek Carabao
demonstrates his signature dish, which is now available on-board.
Add Carabao
stands proudly in front of the new plane.
(L to R)
Thierry Mekwattana, Add Carabao and Lek Carabao express their feelings after
seeing the finished paint job for the first time.
The plane’s
tail carries the picture of Thierry, Lek and Add Carabao.
The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC)
Center for International Trade Studies projects Thai exports as growing at
2.4 - 5.6 percent in the second quarter of 2011, compared to the first
quarter, and the value of the country’s exports is expected to reach
US$54-56 billion.
Center director Aat Pisanwanich said exports will
continue to grow in the second quarter after the Export Composite Leading
Index in February stood at 101.3 - an increase of 0.16 from January.
The center also said that Thai exports this year will
grow 12.4 - 16.5 percent and the export value will reach US$249-227 billion,
falling from 28.1 percent growth last year.
A positive factor supporting exports in the second
quarter was expansion of global production despite the March 11 earthquake
and tsunami in Japan. The disaster in Japan is not likely to have much
impact on the world economy but will affect Thai exports of autos, rubber,
and electronics in the short term.
Meanwhile, Japan will need more imports of food,
agricultural and consumer goods because farming areas in Japan were severely
damaged while China, the US and Netherlands remain as Thailand’s
competitors.
He said negative factors affecting Thai exports are high
oil prices, which impact both the production and transportation sectors. It
is estimated that oil prices will stay at US$100-120 per barrel and may
reach US$150 per barrel in some future period due to turmoil in the Middle
East and North Africa.
The situation must be closely monitored as the impact
will be realized in the coming months. Thai exports to Libya dropped by 22.7
percent and to Egypt by 17.3 percent.
The impact on exports from the disaster also must be kept
under close watch. Southern floods affected Thai rubber and shrimp exports
in the second quarter.
Thai baht strengthening, which may reach 30 baht per
dollar is not considered a risk factor for exports now, he said, reasoning
that all currencies in the region are in a strengthening trend, so it does
not affect Thailand’s competitive capability and its exports still
experienced favorable growth. (MCOT)
