At a glance
- Company
- Capital A
- Announcement
- Event
- Location
- Seoul, South Korea
People
- Tony FernandesCEO of Capital A and AirAsia co-founder
- Hong Myung-boHead Coach
- Park Hang-seo
- Son Heung-min
- Hwang In-beom
Products and programs
SEOUL, June 3, 2025 -- Capital A announced today that its CEO and AirAsia co-founder Tony Fernandes personally sent off the South Korean national football team as they departed for Basra, Iraq, ahead of their crucial FIFA World Cup Qualifier match on 6 June.
Tony Fernandes with Son Heung-min as he sends off the Korean National Football Team at Incheon Airport ahead of big match in Iraq.
A special charter flight, D7256, operated by AirAsia X, took off from Incheon International Airport at 11:00 AM, carrying the national squad and coaching staff — including Head Coach Hong Myung-bo, Park Hang-seo, Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur), and Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord Rotterdam).
As a lifelong football fan and former owner of Queens Park Rangers, Tony Fernandes was at the airport to offer his personal support and encouragement to the players and coaching staff.
He said, “I’ve always believed in empowering people and helping dreams take flight — whether through football or helping people travel connecting people to places just as AirAsia has done for the past 23 years. This is a proud moment not only for Korean football, but for Asia. We stand behind the team and wish them the very best as they carry the hopes of a nation into this World Cup qualifier. I’ll definitely be tuning in for the match.”
Tony Fernandes is well known among Korean football fans for his connection to Park Ji-sung, whom he signed to Queens Park Rangers in 2012 and later appointed as AirAsia’s global ambassador in 2014.
Capital A is the parent company of a broad portfolio of businesses across travel, aviation, logistics and fintech — including AirAsia MOVE, the group’s all-in-one online travel agency platform.
The Korean national team is expected to return to Incheon on 6 June on the same charter flight following the match.
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In brief
Capital A says CEO and AirAsia co-founder Tony Fernandes attended Incheon International Airport to see off South Korea’s national football team before its World Cup Qualifier in Iraq. The squad and coaching staff travelled to Basra on a special AirAsia X charter flight, D7256, which departed at 11:00 AM. Those named among the group included Head Coach Hong Myung-bo, Park Hang-seo, Son Heung-min and Hwang In-beom. Fernandes offered encouragement to the team and said he would watch the match. The qualifier is scheduled for 6 June. Capital A also noted Fernandes’s past connection to Park Ji-sung through Queens Park Rangers and AirAsia. The company says the Korean team is expected to return to Incheon on the same charter flight after the match.
Key takeaways
- Tony Fernandes attended Incheon Airport to support South Korea’s national football team before its qualifier in Iraq.
- AirAsia X charter flight D7256 departed for Basra carrying the squad and coaching staff.
- The match is scheduled for 6 June, with the team expected to return on the same flight.
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- AirAsia brand co. Appoints Multi-Hyphenate Ta-ku as Creative Director
- Capital A announces EGM timeframe, marking key progress in aviation business disposal to AirAsia X
- Capital A accelerates sustainability focus, records efficiency gains amidst aviation industry recovery
- Capital A announces new 5-year service contract for CEO Tony Fernandes
- Capital A ESG ratings climb following successful revamp of its sustainability strategy
