KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Group CEO Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes has been named Orient Aviation magazine's Person of the Year for 2009, for leading AirAsia, which has in eight years grown to become the world’s best low-cost airline and Asia’s largest.

Orient Aviation CEO Barry Grindrod said on Friday, Nov 20 that Fernandes was the first individual whose airline is not affiliated with the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines to receive the award.

This is the 11th year that Orient Aviation, a globally-read Hong Kong-based aviation industry publication, has given the award.

He highlighted Fernandes' role in changing the face of aviation and in doing so, benefited travellers in the region.

“They [critics] said he wouldn’t get the air rights, the business model would not work outside Malaysia, and that the major carriers would gobble up the fledgling carrier.  Today, there are many low-cost carriers  in the region, and AirAsia is leading the way.  Because of Tony and his hardworking team, there are tens of thousands of people flying for the first time. He has, quite literally, changed the way people live,” he added.

Starting out with two aircraft, one destination and staff of 250, AirAsia has expaned to a fleet of about 82 aircraft, 113 routes to almost 60 destinations across Asia-Pacific, and a staff of 6,500.

AirAsia has also expanded into other business ventures. Fernandes also leads Tune Group, which currently includes Tune Hotels, a no-frills hotel chain; Tune Sports, which runs the ASEAN Basketball League; Tune Money; and Tune Talk. Tune Group also has an investment in the 1Malaysia Formula 1 team.