Asia Asia’s Fernandes a contrast with MAS CEO

The CEO's Twitter posts since day one that have engaged the public, rally the staff's spirits and kept the brand looking positive.

KUALA LUMPUR: Media outlets have compared AirAsia chief executive officer Tony Fernandes’ proactive stance with the “uncertainty” displayed by Malaysia Airlines CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya when MH370 went missing in March, according to a report carried by Malaysian Insider.

Formal press statements from the airline with updates on the crisis and ongoing recovery of bodies and wreckage are being issued to the media on a daily basis.

But it is the CEO’s Twitter posts since day one that have engaged the public, rally the staff’s spirits and kept the brand looking positive, even as the tragedy unfolded.

Fernandes has been single-handedly keeping the flow of information going in the wake of flight QZ8501′s crash almost a week ago, using his own social media platform to provide the public real-time updates of the crisis.

“On my way, with my Indonesian management, to Surabaya where most of the passengers are from. Providing information as we get it,” he tweeted on December 27, even before local news outlets reported on the incident.

Over the past week, his flurry of tweets had ranged from frank admissions that the tragedy was the “worst nightmare” and “soul-destroying”, to calls for hope and prayers that the passengers would be safe.

“I, as your group CEO, will be there through these hard times. We will go through this terrible ordeal together and I will try to see as many of you (as Possible),” he wrote.

Keeping morale high despite the tragic circumstances, Fernandes praised his “brave, strong and committed” staff from Indonesia, adding “my pride for them is enormous”.

On Tuesday, he related how the AirAsia crew sang in a plane his daughter boarded to Bali, saying that he wanted “the world to know what amazing people I have in this company”.

“She told me what amazing service our cabin crew gave and how everyone was so happy. It shows the spirit and the strength of our people,” he wrote, which was re-tweeted 305 times.

When authorities announced that wreckage and bodies were spotted at sea, Fernandes wasted no time in personally apologizing and expressing his grief to the families of the QZ8501’s passengers.

“My heart is filled with sadness for all the families involved in QZ 8501. On behalf of AirAsia, my condolences to all. Words cannot express how sorry I am,” he tweeted, adding he was rushing to Surabaya to do all he could.