You can now shop Watsons on this decked out and branded AirAsia plane

To mark its 30th anniversary, Watsons Malaysia is launching its first-ever Watsons branded airplane in collaboration with AirAsia. It is the first retailer in Malaysia to have its own branded airplane.

The Watsons-branded airplane will start serving passengers from mid-July onwards at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2, and will feature Watsons' branding, in-flight shopping opportunities, and various in-flight engagement activities.

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"What led us to this partnership is our shared belief that the sky is not the limit – our passion to serve our customers has no limits, and anything is possible for us," said Malina Ngai, group CEO of AS Watson Group.

The in-flight shopping highlights key product categories including travel and health essentials, beauty products for on-the-go use, exclusive brands, and Watsons Brand products.

Passengers can conveniently view and scan QR codes of these offerings before take-off. They can then shop and collect their purchases at any of the 700+ Watsons stores in Malaysia upon arrival.

Watsons members can also enjoy region-wide privileges such as the Asia One Pass, which is available in 10 markets. This enables Watsons members to get local member offers during their travels and earn points, not just in their home market but also in other Watsons markets across Asia.

Ngai added, “Watsons has been at the forefront of revolutionising the in-store environment for customers, and over these two years, we’re innovating customer experiences in Asia, including Malaysia, and investing US$250 million in 6,000 new and upgraded stores. This means 75% of the store portfolio in Asia will provide a more innovative and enhanced experience for our customers.”

"As customers' expectations for a seamless and pleasant shopping experience have been rising, over two years, Watsons Malaysia is opening and upgrading 300 O+O, making its stores the preferred destinations for interactive experiences," added Caryn Loh, managing director of Watsons Malaysia and Watsons International’s regional exclusives director.

Additionally, Watsons Malaysia will roll out a series of initiatives to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Loyalty members who spend a minimum of RM100 in a single transaction, either offline or online, will be eligible to win prizes, including AirAsia flight tickets, AirAsia MOVE hotel stays, AirAsia MOVE points, and Watsons' e-vouchers.

Ahead of its 30th anniversary, Watsons had also recently invested US$250 million to refurbish existing stores and open new stores across Asia.

The rebrand comes after Watsons recognised that customers’ expectations for seamless and enjoyable shopping was continuing to rise. As a two-year store upgrade, the brand invested in opening and upgrading over 2,200 O+O (offline plus online) stores across 15 markets in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East in 2023.

To ride on the momentum, the company expects to have over 3,800 new and refitted O+O stores by the end of 2024. This rebrand covers the Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Thailand markets, aiming to enhance customers' in-store experiences. 

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