New Air Asia Boeing 737-300 1997

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad prays prior to boarding a brand new Air Asia Boeing 737-300 on it's maiden flight to the Malaysian island of Langkawi, at the Kuala Lumpur airport Saturday February 1, 1997. Air Asia was set-up as a second national carrier to compliment Malaysian Airlines and to help Kuala Lumpur become an international flight hub. Air Asia started operations last November to Pattaya, Taipei and Kota Kinabalu. The airline hopes to expand it's destinations to include China, the Philippines and Indonesia. 

(Photo by Mike Fiala)