🛫️ Ready for takeoff? We sat down with Karen Chan, Group Chief Commercial Officer at airasia to get an inside look at what it's like to work for one of the most innovative airlines in the world.

We'll also be sharing some insider tips on how you can land your dream job in the commercial team! So fasten your seatbelt and get ready for a career journey that will take you to new heights.

Question: What does a typical day in airasia look like for you? What do you like most about your job? Could you share the most challenging part of your job?

Answer: There’s never a typical day in airasia! Always unexpected surprises when you work in an airline, be it inclement weather that disrupts the schedule or air traffic control congestion, there are always events to handle.

But that’s what I also like most about my job - when cross-functional teams come together to resolve a situation and turn a problem into a potential for service recovery and consumer delight. Recently, I was on a domestic flight from BKI to KUL, when a mother with 6 young kids didn’t reserve any seats and the flight was full. One of our cabin crew made the effort of requesting 2 rows of customers to change seats, to allow the mother to sit with all her kids. That is customer obsession and Allstars at our best. These are moments that make me proud to be an Allstar at airasia.

As Group Chief Commercial Officer, I focus on data, data, data. Whether it is topline revenue, seats sold, ancillary revenue per pax, route profitability, or marketing budget, I’m surrounded by dashboards, google sheets and financial statements. I also spend a lot of time talking and aligning with multiple stakeholders to drive results, be it AOCs on the next promotion, Superapp on digital marketing support, and other business entities on potential collaboration.

I also work on strategic longer-term growth initiatives, assessing new market potential. This year has taken me to quite a few unique destinations - Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Nepal, eye-opening experiences.

Every challenge is an opportunity to grow and learn. The past few years are a testimony of how adversity can shape us to become more resilient and more resourceful.

One of the things I love most about my job is the dynamic nature of the airline industry. It's fast-paced, constantly changing, and always presents new challenges to overcome.

Question: What makes an Allstar successful in your commercial team? Do you have any advice for candidates who would love to join your team?

Answer: To be a successful Allstar, you need agility, humility and grit. It would be best if you had a growth mindset, not a fixed mindset. Change is the only constant in such a fast-paced environment, so prepare to put your running shoes on!

First, be a creative problem-solver. The airline industry is always changing, so it's important to think on your feet and come up with creative solutions to challenges that arise.

Second, build strong relationships with clients, colleagues, and industry contacts. Building strong relationships can help you find new opportunities, stay up-to-date on industry trends, and develop a strong reputation in the field.

Third, develop your communication skills. You'll be interacting with multiple stakeholders, and a variety of people, from clients to vendors to creative teams. Being able to communicate effectively and build rapport with others is essential for success in this field.

Fourth, stay organized and detail-oriented. In the fast-paced world of Aviation, there are often multiple projects and deadlines to manage simultaneously. Developing strong organizational skills and attention to detail can help you stay on top of your workload and ensure that everything is completed to a high standard.

Lastly, keep learning and growing. The airline industry is constantly evolving, so it's important to stay up-to-date on industry trends and technology. Investing in your own professional development and continuing to learn and grow can help you stay relevant and competitive in the industry.

Question: What is the current recruiting process or system that can help candidates ace the selection in your commercial team?

At airasia, we start our hiring process upon job posting activation through our career portal (https://mycareer.airasia.com/gb/en). Once you are shortlisted, we will notify you to undergo a series of interviews or even case studies.

To understand more about airasia's hiring process, please look through the airasia's hiring process page (https://mycareer.airasia.com/gb/en/hiringprocess), and to learn more about us, you can refer to our newsroom (https://mycareer.airasia.com/gb/en/blog).

Question: What sort of preparation would you recommend for someone interested in commercial-related positions?

It depends on which level of entry you’re considering. You can gain practical experience through internships, part-time jobs, or project-based work can be a great way to build skills and knowledge in the commercial field. Or if you are seeking a managerial and above position, then a relevant degree, such as in marketing, business, or communications, relevant work experience in FMCG, e-commerce, and tech industries and staying up-to-date on industry trends can also help set you apart from other candidates.

Job Opportunities in the Commercial team:

https://mycareer.airasia.com/gb/en/c/brand-commercial-jobs

or Join our talent community for future openings and company insights:

https://mycareer.airasia.com/gb/en/jointalentcommunity

Our Office Location:

RedQ, Jalan Pekeliling 5, Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA2), 64000, KLIA, Selangor, Malaysia. https://goo.gl/maps/NSaiunsaN1UMMX8GA