AirAsia runs the distance: Bali race draws 5,000 as carrier bets on lifestyle tourism

AirAsia Indonesia drew over 5,000 runners from across 33 provinces and 40 countries to Bali's Nusa Dua for the inaugural RedRun 2025, using the mass-participation race as a statement of intent: low-cost carriers can play a role in shaping lifestyle tourism, one footstep at a time.

Held on 18 May, the run was more than a one-off event. For AirAsia - crowned the world's best low-cost carrier by Skytrax - it's a new kind of campaign: one that stitches together travel, wellness, and regional connectivity, with hopes it becomes an annual fixture.

"We're incredibly proud to see the overwhelming enthusiasm from today's RedRun participants. This isn't just a race - it's a real celebration of community and tourism promotion. We hope RedRun will grow into an even bigger annual event in the future," said Veranita Yosephine, CEO of AirAsia Indonesia, in a release.

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The event featured different race categories - a 21K Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K - with the first runners taking off just after 5:15am. A blend of seasoned athletes and first-timers coursed through the coastal route, animated by music acts such as Salon R&B and Berlari Berdendang.

One participant, Shae from Australia, shared excitement about the atmosphere and course layout: "AirAsia RedRun 2025 in Bali was such an enjoyable experience - the course was smooth with no steep inclines, so we could reach the finish line faster. The route was beautiful, the atmosphere festive, and the event was very well organised."

RedRun was co-hosted by PermataBank, whose branding was visibly integrated throughout the event. "Our partnership in the AirAsia RedRun 2025 reflects Permata Bank's commitment to continuously support a healthy lifestyle and mobility for the Indonesian people. More than just a race, RedRun is an inclusive platform that brings together diverse communities through lifestyle sports for a positive purpose," said Glenn Ranti, division head, corporate communications, PermataBank.

The event offered a prize pool of IDR 232 million (US$14,100), with awards for winners in open, national, and master categories. Organisers say the event rests on five pillars: destination promotion, community involvement, healthy lifestyle, safety awareness, and positive sporting experience.

The timing of RedRun also supports a wider national objective: to help Indonesia reach its 16 million foreign visitor target in 2025, AirAsia said. According to official statistics, the country welcomed 13.7 million international tourists in 2024. AirAsia Indonesia alone accounted for 4.5 million international passenger movements, including 1.2 million foreign tourists.

To maintain that momentum, the airline has also launched its "AirAsia Red Sale" - a seat promotion running until 25 May, offering flights from as low as IDR 0 (before fees and baggage) to destinations such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Brunei. Domestic routes including Bali, Labuan Bajo, and Lampung are also part of the offer.

The sale is available exclusively through the AirAsia MOVE app (formerly AirAsia SuperApp) and the airline's website, and includes added incentives for PermataBank AirAsia Credit Card holders: a daily discount of IDR 150,000 (US$9.15) for the first 30 transactions over IDR 1.5 million (US$91.5), and 7x AirAsia Points on qualifying purchases.

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