Tharumalingam Kanagalingam, better known as Bo Lingam, is the Group CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group Limited.

Bo joined AirAsia in 2001 as a Ground Operations Manager, responsible for the implementation of the low-cost concept in operations and procurement. Since then, he has held several key positions including Purchasing and Supplies Senior Manager, Regional Guest Services Director, and President & Group Chief Operation Officer, of which he supervised AirAsia’s operations in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, drove process improvement and set up new airlines in the region for the Group.

Prior to joining AirAsia, and upon completing his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, he worked extensively in the publication and music industry at various production houses, including as Production Controller at EMI Music Malaysia as well as Operations Manager and Promotions Manager at Warner Music Malaysia.

As Group CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group Limited, Bo leads AirAsia airline business and oversees the five airlines in the Group (AirAsia Malaysia, AirAsia Philippines, AirAsia Thailand, AirAsia Indonesia and AirAsia Cambodia).

The birth story of AirAsia, the aviation arm of Capital A, is an industry legend. It started back in 2001 when Tony Fernandes and Kamarudin Meranun bought an ailing airline with two aircraft and 200 staff and turned it into the fourth largest in Asia, with more than 200 aircraft and 21,000 staff across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and more. With affordability, inclusivity and accessibility underpinning the operation, AirAsia has carried more than 600 million passengers to over 160 destinations in its network. With the mission to serve the underserved, it has connected people and places, and has largely been credited for democratizing air travel in the region with its famous tagline ‘Now Everyone Can Fly’.