AirAsia scores two accolades at Malaysia Management Excellence Awards 2024

The airline was recognised by the award-giving body for its Leading People and Leading Self Programme as well as its Allstars Peer Support.

AirAsia triumphed in the Employee Engagement of the Year - Airline and Health and Wellness Initiative of the Year - Airline categories at the Malaysia Management Excellence Awards 2024, highlighting the efficiency of its initiatives aimed at empowering its employees.

Leading People and Leading Self Programme

AirAsia recognised outstanding employees—also known as Allstars—and strengthened its talent pipeline by launching the Leading People and Leading Self programmes in 2023. These support the growth of potential leaders and high achievers through in-person sessions, online coaching, on-demand learning modules, and assessments.

The Leading People programme was designed for Allstars nominated by department heads as potential successors for leadership roles. This offers a comprehensive learning experience that equips participants with the skills and knowledge needed in future leadership responsibilities. One of its standout features is a challenge where Allstars work in teams to solve real-world business problems within AirAsia’s ecosystem. Some of the ideas generated in the challenge have even been successfully implemented within AirAsia.

The Leading Self programme, on the other hand, is aimed at high performers who have consistently scored 4 out of 5 or higher for three consecutive years, serving as preparation for these individuals for leadership roles. Participants are given the tools to handle complex challenges and inspire their teams.

Both programmes are assessed based on AirAsia’s core values, such as All For One, One For All; Dare to Dream; Make A Difference; Celebrate All Individuals; Keep It Simple; Be Transparent; Have Empathy and Respect; and Safety is No. 1.

In the Leading People programme, participants are evaluated by their managers on how well they align with these values. The final projects are judged by management from different business lines within AirAsia, giving participants a chance to interact directly with leadership and receive career advice.

These initiatives have played a key role in nurturing exceptional employees. In the latest Employer Net Promoter Score survey, AirAsia saw a significant increase in scores related to employee well-being, recognition, job satisfaction, compensation and affiliation with the organisation. 

The score for Allstar Pride was particularly high, reaching 53 points. In terms of talent sustainability, the score for Career Growth improved from 16 to 20 points.

Allstar Peer Support

The Allstar Peer Support programme is an employee assistance initiative driven by Allstars to support fellow Allstars. This offers a confidential, supportive space where employees can turn to for help with a variety of challenges—whether they’re related to work, health, finances, relationships, or personal issues.

The programme was initially led by the company’s Flight Safety team and involved trained pilots and cabin crew, who are skilled at managing stress and emotions. This initiative later expanded to become part of AirAsia’s broader employee assistance programme, focussing on mental health and well-being, especially in the post-pandemic era.

In 2024, more Allstars were trained to become Peer Supporters and they now join pilots and cabin crew in offering a listening ear and empathetic support to colleagues.

AirAsia also partnered with clinical psychologists to train Peer Supporters in crucial skills like active listening, effective communication, stress management, and promoting mental well-being. Peer Supporters act as the first point of contact for employees in need of assistance. If someone’s situation is more serious or requires professional help, Peer Supporters refer them to external mental health providers, such as The Pillars, a mental health services provider. Allstars are entitled to five free counselling sessions with The Pillars, covered by the company.

AirAsia actively promotes Allstar Peer Support through internal channels, including online platforms and physical awareness touchpoints at the office. Aside from peer support, the company also offers other mental health resources like stress management workshops, counselling services, and celebrating Mental Health Week.

The company has so far trained 60 Peer Supporters, including pilots, cabin crew, and office-based employees, who have helped nearly 1,000 colleagues across the company.

These ongoing efforts to create a supportive and caring workplace serve as a testament to AirAsia’s commitment to fostering an environment where employees can reach their full potential and therefore contribute to the overall success of the company.
The Malaysia Management Excellence Awards recognises the country’s top leaders, innovators, and teams whose initiatives have driven significant business success for their companies.

The awards programme also celebrates efforts in areas such as employee engagement, health and wellness, diversity and inclusion, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives that have positively impacted the workforce or customers.

The Malaysia Management Excellence Awards is presented by Asian Business Review Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2025 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's employee engagements and management initiatives, please contact Danica Avila at [email protected].