AirAsia Enters Event Ticketing Scene with MOVETIX Launch

AirAsia, renowned for its aviation services, is taking a bold step into the realm of event ticketing with its latest venture, MOVETIX. The announcement on Monday marked a significant expansion of the AirAsia superapp, now rebranded as "airasia MOVE." This initiative underscores AirAsia's strategic shift towards becoming a comprehensive travel solution.

In collaboration with Dublin-based ticketing platform Coras, AirAsia is set to offer access to over 10,000 global events and activities. Hassan Choudhury, the head of MOVETIX, emphasized the superapp’s evolution into a one-stop travel and entertainment hub. Choudhury's experience as CEO of RedRecords, a joint venture between AirAsia and Universal Music, plays a pivotal role in this new endeavor.

Skift reports that AirAsia is focusing on integrating music and sports into its ticketing services, aiming to enhance app traffic and promote bundled travel products. Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia’s parent company Capital A, previously indicated a shift in focus to the core aspect of travel in the superapp.

Nadia Omer, CEO of airasia MOVE, pointed out that entertainment is an integral part of travel. The launch of MOVETIX allows app users to book a complete travel experience, including flights, hotels, transportation, meals, and now, event tickets, within a unified platform.

The demand for live events in Southeast Asia was recently spotlighted by the rapid sell-out of Taylor Swift tickets. Mark McLaughlin, CEO of Coras, hinted at AirAsia selling tickets for major artists in the near future. To celebrate its launch, MOVETIX has been appointed the official ticketing partner for the StarHub Football Festival in Singapore, scheduled for April 20-21.

McLaughlin observed that customers often start with purchasing tickets for live events, followed by travel arrangements. AirAsia’s move into ticketing aligns with this trend, leveraging its substantial customer base of over 15 million monthly active users.

Recognizing Southeast Asia as a thriving market for live entertainment and sports, big artists are increasingly including the region in their global tours. Coras aims to connect tickets to fans by integrating with ticketing software systems and partnering with brands like AirAsia. With its partnerships, including an integration with Singapore’s largest ticketing agency Sistic, Coras is poised to become a significant player in the ticketing industry in Southeast Asia, India, Japan, and beyond.

AirAsia's foray into the event ticketing landscape represents a strategic expansion, tapping into the vast potential of the live entertainment market in Southeast Asia.