RedQuarters set to become AirAsia’s global HQ by 2016

Digging in: Fernandes (centre) breaking ground during a ceremony for the new headquarters at KLIA2 in Sepang.With him are (from third left) Azran Osman Rani, Aireen Omar, Datuk Aziz Bakar, Datuk Kamarudin Meranun and Datuk Fam Lee Ee as AirAsia cabin crew look on. - AZMAN GHANI / The Star

SEPANG: RedQuarters will be the new home for AirAsia’s global headquarters upon its completion scheduled for June 2016.

“It will be an open plan office,” said AirAsia’s group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, adding that the new office was designed with the employees in mind.

The employees were encouraged to take ownership of their new home and asked to choose a name for the new place, he said at the groundbreaking ceremony near Tune Hotel KLIA2 yesterday.

The chosen name, RedQuarters or RedQ, was given by AirAsia X’s flight attendant January Ann Baysa from the Philippines.

Estimated to cost RM140mil, the six-storey headquarters will cover a gross floor area of 613,383 square feet. It will house about 2,000 workers of AirAsia and AirAsia X.

Fernandes said he was projecting a good year for the airline come 2015.

“We think 2015 will be one of our best years following several initiatives that we launched such as the WiFi (service in flights). Now 40% of our passengers are using WiFi.

He spoke about the oil prices, too, saying that AirAsia would lower its fares by taking away fuel surcharge should oil prices fall lower.

“We want to lower the fares and stimulate the market. If we can get the load factor up to 85% next year, that would be fantastic,” he said.However, he said “oil prices can change so quickly. As soon as it goes down, it can go up as well.”

Fernandes also said the airline was looking forward to more ­cooperation with Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB).

He added that KLIA2 had the potential to become a low-cost hub for all of Asia.