Kota Kinabalu: AirAsia on Monday launched a special livery as a tribute to the late Datuk Irene Benggon Charuruks, who was known as the “Iron Lady” of Sabah tourism.
Capital A Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said Irene was a key figure in shaping and promoting Sabah’s tourism sector and had been supporting AirAsia as a key tourism player in the State since its inception 22 years ago.
“The special livery tribute reflects the airline’s appreciation for her impactful support and symbolises the close ties between AirAsia and Sabah.
“Sabah is such a special place for AirAsia, where we have grown exponentially, flying more than 80 million passengers to/from Sabah since 2002 until November 2023,” he said during the livery unveiling ceremony at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), here.
“However, no matter how successful we are, we will never forget those people who helped us along the way, and Irene was one of those who truly believed in us.
“Back in 2001, when the news about Din (Datuk Kamarudin Meranun) and I decided to acquire an airline was out, only one person took it seriously, and that person was Irene.
“With her continued support, we established Sabah as a hub, and the rest is history.
“So Irene, this special livery is for you, it will be the first plane we ever named, and we dedicated it to you.
“Look out for it when it is flying in the skies, especially over Sabah, when you look down on us.
“Rest in peace and lots of love from all of us at AirAsia,” he said.
The special livery includes Irene’s full name and a derivative of the Murut motif “Nantuapan”.
The original motif symbolises solidarity and the spirit of sharing, and it was Irene’s favourite motif.
Irene helmed STB from 1991 to 2016 and she died on Feb 15, 2021.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister cum Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said:
“As a true ‘Iron Lady of Tourism’, Irene was instrumental in putting the State on the world map, making it the tourist hotspot it is today.
“From her passion and commitment to developing air connectivity to Sabah to her dedication to maintaining the State’s good name and reputation, Irene’s unwavering efforts are forever in our hearts.
“Sabah’s rich heritage, vibrant culture and renowned festivals have gained global admiration, mainly due to Irene’s dedicated 25 years of hard work.”
Also present were Irene’s children Zudevi and Zuhun Charuruks, while their sister Zurani is currently in Perth, Australia.
“Going back to more than two years ago, it was a surprise for the family when Tan Sri Tony dedicated the plane, especially during Covid, the hardest time for the travel industry.
“Tan Sri (Tony), you did not hesitate to dedicate a plane to our late Ma (Irene). We were very touched when you sent out the video.
“Today (Monday), seeing her name on the plane makes it so real. It is wonderful.
“This is a very fitting tribute to Ma to keep her memory alive…Datuk Irene Benggon Charuruks.
“She loved Sabah so much, and here we are today. This plane will fly out of Sabah and carry travellers back home,” said Zudevi. After establishing Kota Kinabalu as a hub in 2002, Kota Kinabalu became AirAsia’s second biggest hub after Kuala Lumpur.
As the biggest airline with the widest connectivity in the State, AirAsia now flies 21 routes, including domestic and international destinations, with 331 flights weekly from Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau.
In 2014, AirAsia launched the “Thank You Sabah” livery dedicated to Sabah and Sabahans for their undivided support of the airline’s significant presence in the State.
For the record, the Sabah Government under then Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman facilitated the loan that enabled AirAsia to take off.
Musa stated this in a speech delivered by then Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun during the unveiling of the “Thank You Sabah” livery.
AirAsia operates flights from three destinations in Sabah – Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau, to various destinations, including Singapore, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, Taipei, Philippines and more.
The airline also plans to introduce new routes, such as Seoul to here, among other destinations, in the coming year and beyond.
Capital A Executive Chairman Datuk Kamarudin Meranun was also present at the ceremony.
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