13/10/2025
When Your CEO Sees You Napping — and Praises You for It!
In most jobs, getting caught sleeping on the job might land you in hot water, but at AirAsia, the airline’s unconventional CEO took one such moment as an opportunity to celebrate his hardworking cabin crew and staff on social media.
The airline’s big boss, Tony Fernandes, came across one of his cabin crew catching some shut-eye between safety-related duties and snapped a cheeky photo. His Instagram caption was not only refreshing but also an excellent example of what makes a great leader. He wrote:
“It’s a tough job being a cabin crew member. People don’t realize how tough it is. I encourage all my Allstars to take a nap if they are tired. We have many sleep pods in the office. Full respect to my cabin crew who work so hard. Just to be clear, all my Allstars work incredibly hard — from engineering to pilots to guest services...”
Fernandes is one of the most famous airline heads in the world. In addition to buying the failing AirAsia for just 25 cents and transforming it into Asia’s largest and most beloved low-cost airline, posts like this show why he’s known for leading with heart, not hierarchy. The AirAsia CEO is admired for his down-to-earth, people-first style, often seen on the frontlines chatting with cabin crew, ground staff, and passengers alike. He empowers employees to grow, encourages ideas from every level, and treats mistakes as learning opportunities. His honesty, humor, and hands-on approach have built a culture of trust and family at AirAsia, proving that leadership works best when it’s human.
Photos: IG @ tonyfernandes