SINGAPORE (Channel News Asia) – AirAsia will provide free flights to all Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Paralympians who won a medal at the 2016 Paralympic Games, the budget airline’s CEO, Tony Fernandes, wrote in an Instagram post on Monday (Sep 12).
For those who won gold, they will be given “free flights for life”, while those who clinched silver and bronze medals would also be given free flights for five and two years, respectively, Mr Fernandes added.
“Thought the Summer Olympics was amazing. But the Paralympics has showed me what determination is all about,” he wrote on Instagram.
“Thanks guys and girls for giving all of us the spirit to never give up despite all the obstacles in front of us,” he added.
Singaporean swimmers Yip Pin Xiu, who clinched gold in the women’s S24 100m backstroke and Theresa Goh, who won bronze in the women’s SB4 100m breaststroke are both set to receive free flights.
Malaysian throwers Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi and Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli as well as Thai wheelchair racers Pongsakorn Paeyo and Prawat Wahoram are among the other ASEAN Paralympic gold medal winners who will be awarded free flights for life by AirAsia.
The Malaysia-headquartered budget airline had announced a similar reward for ASEAN’s Olympic medallists in August.
– CNA/am