UTM partners AirAsia to place logo on airline livery

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has tied up with AirAsia to launch its aircraft livery on an AirAsia Airbus A320 that is marked with the university's identifiable logo. According to UTM vice chancellor Wahid bin Omar, to advertise on an aircraft in the form of livery would be at the value of RM2.7 million. Meanwhile, AirAsia's group CEO Tony Fernandes said the branding will permanently remain on the aircraft.

Upon further clarification, it has come to light that the previous statement is false and that UTM got the livery for free instead of paying RM2.7 million for it. A+M expresses deep regret and apologises for injuring the reputation of any of the above-named respectable university and airline.

UTM's co-branding initiative strives to support the pursuit of higher education for Malaysians internationally, with a particular focus on the ASEAN region. The collaboration is also a step forward in the area of global prominence and branding in the University's Global Plan 2012-2010 Phase III. The livery was illustrated by a combination of lecturers and students from the faculty of built environment and surveying from UTM. UTM first partnered with AirAsia in 2009 with an MoU.

"UTM and AirAsia are similar in many ways and we hope this means that UTM is also in the right direction to be a leading brand in higher education globally," Wahid said. He added that the university is keen to explore ways to expand its partnership with AirAsia, such as through student internship and staff attachment programs as well as research collaborations.