Analyzing AirAsia's Initiatives for Gender Equality and Empowerment

This report analyzes AirAsia's commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment, spearheaded by Tony Fernandes. It highlights initiatives such as the "Girls can do anything" campaign and the appointment of female pilots, which challenge gender stereotypes in the aviation industry. The report examines the impact of these efforts, including collaborations with the Malaysian government and the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development. It also discusses the challenges faced, such as resistance from some male employees. Overall, the report underscores AirAsia's role in promoting women's involvement in the tourism and hospitality sectors, contributing to broader societal changes in gender equality within the Asian context. The report also mentions the sources such as the interviews and articles from reputable websites like Credit Suisse and Travel Daily Media.

Running head: TRAVEL AND TOURISM
Travel and Tourism
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author notes

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TRAVEL AND TOURISM
The context of gender equality in the Asian country is present in the every sectors. In
the Airlines industry, this discrimination is apparent vividly. Mr. Tony Fernandes is the
owner of Air Asia and worked for the empowerment of women. Tony Fernandes has believed
the cause of women empowerment and gender equality. There are a number of initiative
taken by the entrepreneur in order to ensure workplace equality and women empowerment.
Some of these initiatives are the “Girls can do anything” campaign and appointing more
female pilots and crews in his airline Air Asia (Elliott, 2017).
The genders stereotypes are so much prevalent in the society and workplaces of Asian
countries. In most of his interviews, Fernandes talks about the condition of female workers
and importance of education process. The company has collaborated with the Ministry of
Women, Family and Community department to reach more numbers of women all over the
country. Malaysian airlines generally have low number of female executives in their
organizations. The number of female pilots are almost zero in the airlines. Tony is the
entrepreneur who took the initiative of appointing more female pilot and ground staffs in his
airline. The community development project of Tony’s company gives importance to the
education and motivation of the female students to enter the work premise.
In the year 2016, Tony’s Air Asia collaborated with the Malaysian government in
order to launch their “Girls can do anything” campaign and hosted the group of 84 female
students. These students were brought to the headquarters of airlines and they meet the
female pilot, senior managers and engineers there. This was a motivational session and the
objective was to inspire these students to make their way in the society and workplace. The
confidence that they lack because of the social restraints and all others need to be restored.
This campaign was designed for women development in economic and other roles. The
government and people appreciated the steps taken by Mr. Fernandes.

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TRAVEL AND TOURISM
Other than the campaign, the Air Asia chief also marked his work in gender equality
by appointing the female pilots in their airlines. This was a huge step as the number of female
pilots are very low in the country. Later in an interview, Tony said that, this step was not
received with all positive response in their organization. Some of the male pilots were against
this selection of female pilots. The company chief did not entertain this. According to Tony,
girls should be supported in their life decisions. The Asian culture is already suffering too
much for the underdevelopment of the women and race discriminations (Ammann, 2017).
Hence, it is the responsibility of people to come forward and make the journey accessible for
the women. The ministry of women, family and community department of Malayasia
welcome this initiative. The ministry ensures that they are ready to further promote any such
initiatives for women empowerment. Therefore, the constructive effort of Tony Fernandes
has increased women involvement in the tourism and hospitality business.

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TRAVEL AND TOURISM
Ammann, D., (2017). Interview: “I am making Asia smaller”. Retrieved from:
https://www.credit-suisse.com/about-us-news/en/articles/news-and-expertise/tony-
fernandes-interview-201704.html
Elliott, M., (2017). AirAsia campaign empowers Malaysian women. Retrieved from:
https://www.traveldailymedia.com/airasia-campaign-empowers-malaysian-women/