AirAsia X (AirAsia Group) strengthens crisis response through strategic counselling partnership with Board of Counsellors Malaysia
[L-R] YBrs. Tuan Haji Sadli Bin Osman, Registrar & Chief Executive Officer, Malaysian Board of Counsellors; Yang Berhormat Puan Lim Hui Ying, Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development; Captain Suresh Bangah, Group Chief Operations Officer, AirAsia Group & Captain Saravanan Subramaniam, Chief Safety & Quality Officer, AirAsia Group
SEPANG, 9 June 2026 – AirAsia X (AirAsia Group)* today formalised a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Board of Counsellors Malaysia (BOC), also known as Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia, reinforcing its commitment to emergency preparedness, psychosocial support capabilities, and safety resilience across its regional network.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Yang Berhormat Puan Lim Hui Ying, Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development and Captain Suresh Bangah, Group Chief Operations Officer, AirAsia Group. The collaboration integrates professional psychosocial support into the Group's humanitarian assistance and crisis response framework, strengthening its emergency preparedness ecosystem.
Under the agreement, both parties will collaborate in areas including emergency response preparedness, deployment of registered counsellors during crises, psychosocial first aid (PFA), disaster response exercises, and specialised training programmes for AirAsia Group personnel across all AOCs.
Through the partnership, BOC will provide trained registered counsellors to support employees, survivors, victims and family members affected during emergencies or crisis situations across the Group’s operational network.
The collaboration will also see both parties jointly enhancing emergency response protocols and operational readiness through simulation exercises, knowledge sharing initiatives and continuous capability development programmes.
Captain Suresh Bangah, Group Chief Operations Officer, AirAsia Group said: “Safety and the wellbeing of our guests has always been at the core of everything we do at AirAsia. This collaboration reflects our commitment to strengthening not only operational preparedness, but also the human aspect of a crisis response through professional psychosocial support.
“By working together with the Board of Counsellors Malaysia, we are reinforcing our ability to provide timely care, compassion and assistance to affected individuals, families and to our Allstars during challenging situations, while continuing to strengthen our overall emergency response framework across the region.”
YBrs. Tuan Haji Sadli Bin Osman, Registrar & Chief Executive Officer, Malaysian Board of Counsellors said: “This collaboration marks an important step in strengthening psychosocial support services and humanitarian response capabilities within the aviation industry. Through this partnership, registered counsellors under the Board of Counsellors Malaysia will contribute their expertise in providing emotional support, psychological first aid and counselling assistance during emergencies and disaster situations. We commend AirAsia for recognising the importance of mental well-being and psychosocial care as part of a comprehensive safety and emergency response ecosystem.”
As part of the collaboration, AirAsia Group will also facilitate transportation and logistical support for counsellors deployed during emergency response situations, training programmes and simulation exercises across selected destinations within the AirAsia network, enhancing preparedness for Group-related incidents.
The MOA further reflects both organisations’ shared commitment towards promoting a stronger culture of safety, resilience and preparedness, while ensuring compassionate care remains an integral component of crisis management and humanitarian response.
*The name change from AirAsia X to AirAsia Group Berhad is subject to shareholder approval at the company's 19th Annual General Meeting and registration by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM).