Tony Fernandes CEO Blog

Free flights for life! cool.

Congratulations! You have made Malaysians proud...

The aviation industry have now seen a seismic shift, whereby a well managed budget airline can infiltrate the well guarded long-haul travel playing field of legacy airlines. Its shows that with constant believe, a touch of maverick and being a heretic of conventional airline wisdom has certainly debunk the myth of budget carriers doing long-haul...

AirAsia X is here to stay...AirAsia X has said in recent times that its looking for other European destinations. I wonder after London, AirAsia X has learned from Churchill who said "conquer we must; as conquer we shall"

Its squeaky bum time for legacy airlines chiefs?

Dear Tony, Kudos for standing up against all odds and wish you a continued success. We need this for the middle and lower class.

Hi Datuk, Congratulations!!& Rock on!! i must say, thanks for sharing this with the readers. It is an inspiring journey and indeed an empowering one, to just watch and read the progress of AirAsia. This dream you share gives us the upcoming generation hope to strive even more and as you said, believe the unbelievable and dream the impossible even more with Sir Richard as your partner. I sure bet Sir Freedie Laker would be so impressed and overwhelmed to see AirAsia X carrying the torch and by doing so, your living your dreams and leaving not only his but your legacy as well in the low cost travel industry. I agree that most governments should wake up and not hold back on the open skies which will stimulate travel and bring benefits to consumers.Perhaps sometimes most governments could adapt to what many may say as, See what no else see's and See what everyone else chooses not to see. Thanks Tony All the best & God Bless. Regards To Sir Richard Branson! :) Cheers, Darren Fernandez.

Congratulations on realizing your dreams Tony! You have set a good example to all Malaysians and bring true meaning to the "Malaysia Boleh" spirit. How about creating a special school to teach entrepreneurship? Or even giving out AirAsia scholarships to encourage our young ones to have the necessary knowledge to tough it out in today's cut-throat world? You can even hold competitions to award seed money for new ideas to budding entrepreneurs who want to change the world like you did. Our education system now focuses too much on textbooks, and does not evolve fast enough with the real world. Perhaps you might want to consider that in the future. In a way, we can preserve "Semangat Datuk Tony". :)

a little boy's dream is every mothers pride. Congratulations to you. it is a very tremendously huge, big big big achievement.

Tony, once again, congratulations to your first step success!! Sound a bit discouraging? But I am sorry, this is the fact!!! I try to be positive before I start typing this comment to you. Since all my comment I gave you are deeply from my heart, although i can’t left the fact that you had bring up the first step of this challenge. So is a good start, as you said, “Life is about trying…” Anyway, in my case, so as the other thousands and millions of students who study overseas, they always have same kind of problem no matter you study at the “southern cross” or “Big Ben”. All students are struggle with air fares and even more, flight tickets. Because there are big demand on flight tickets during holidays, and some “Bastard” just keep “skyrocket’ the air fares (Since the demand are inelastic)so that a big amount of people would not be able to afford it!! (Seems you got the same experience as well, feeling far away from home while you were in U.K back in the days.) Yes, there are Skype and MSN for closer communication, I am not trying to abolish their achievement regarding to this case, but still, you still got other barriers like Time zone differences and you can’t physically contact or talk with your families or mates on the other side of the world, somehow, they are just another type of “LAN line phonecall”. Easyjet is a great LCC in the last decades, there are so many good LCC in the world, like ryannair and thomsonfly in Europe, Virgin America and Southeast airline (Your favourie!!) in America and “Virgin Blue” and “Jetstar” in Oceania. But seems like the Asian aviation market is still dominating by the traditional airlines like SQ and CX, Asia somehow is far behind the LCC trend, also the LCC in Asia usually can’t get into the mainstream, I mean……Oasis Hong Kong and Viva Macau or even more, some domestic airline within China, they are all struggling to expend or develop, or even worst, it go bankrupt. I know there are reasons of wrong prediction or bad control on their airlines in some of the cases like Oasis. But still, in certain extend, the Asian Aviation market are still focus on the traditional airlines although they all trying to rip the passenger off. I think that’s one of the serious problems you got to tackle in the coming future. (Maybe one of the reason is the strong believe on “Cheap things never be good” in everyone’s eye. For example, “LCC will easily crash because their pilot wasn’t well train or the plane is easier to get crash!! I actually got a big passage about these theories on my blog, if possible, feel free to have a glance or I will send you a copy.) So that was a big thing for a LCC to encounter and change the negative image from the passengers. (Air Asia has done a great job on that, but not enough for those “Strong believers”.) I am so sorry for pulling you out from euphoria. But I can’t stop myself for typing these “more negative” comments. So I think I should give you a break. Let me do some compliments on your success before you get annoy from my “negative comments” In this case, as I said on the previous bloging’s reply. You have slowly, and slightly getting into the “Kangaroo Route” with a monopoly market in certain extent (Every airline squash themselves into Changi for transition while Air Asia dominate KL market!!) Also the cheap air fare makes people feel really excited since there’s the same level of services and other miscellaneous feature compare with the traditional airlines. For Sir Freddie, In my point of view, he is just unlucky since it was a big evolution back in 70s. Since he actually get into the transatlantic route really well, he was actually got pulled down by two reasons, 1) DC-10 crisis due to the problem of the “Tri-Engine”. 2) Cheap shot from the big airlines. If not, I am sure I can witness Laker Airways to build up the “LCC Pan Am Empire” (Not when Pan Am got bankrupt.) Because back in the time, even the big airlines would object to Laker’s application to start up LHR-HKG route, which was dominate by British Airways, Cathay Pacific and British Caledonian, their action told us that they think Laker Airways as a thread, and they think it was a “myth” only. But I really admire Sir Freddie that he would make an action to take down the “big bully career” BOAC, which was the biggest airline on the trans-Atlantic route. Although their advertising scheme would be outdated for now, but Sir Freddie’s willingness are really strong and his aim really match with your airlines slogan, that everyone can fly. In the case of Air Asia, since you have made the right decision to choose A330 and A340 as your flag carrier in your fleet, so I wouldn’t worry about your use of equipment (Although I am sure 77W will be better then A343 for long haul flight, since you have to minimize the training cost.) For the open skies problem, I would care much about it, since all the Asian government strongly believe in Protectionism, unless there are a “Asian Union” formed like Europe’s EU, if not. I won’t expect much. By the way, I wish that red ticket (Free flights for life) belongs to me!!! But that was a good advertisement for Air Asia. It really attracts people’s attention. But I think you should do something like Virgin did, I mean the “attractive” slogan. (Eg: You never forget your first time”, You know what I mean!!) Just a joke Believe the unbeleiveable Dream the impossible (We can’t live in dreams; we have to wake up and face the reality.) Never take no for an answer (Ok, I will put all “Yes” for my “yes or no” questions in my exam paper!!) Just a joke, don’t take it serious, chill out a bit, Tony!! I am not trying to make fun of your motto. I just want to relax a bit after you read all these long, stupid comments. Anyway, have a nice time in Europe!!

I just want to say that I'm truly happy that your airline is now flying from the UK and I'll definitely will be flying with you when I go to Singapore and Tokyo next year via KL and also gives me an excuse to visit an old friend of mine and her husband as well there! :)]

Hey, I went to Epsom College too... class of 1999 though. -monkey-

Can't imagine the thoughts of a 12 years being sent to foreign country. Now that you are parent too, do you agree with your Mum's decision then?

Hi Tony, Congratulations for the huge achievement. Thank you for the kind sponsorship - by giving us; the IJN Foundation a good discount for the fare - which we were able to fly a seven-men team to a study visit to Birmingham Children's Hospital. WE WERE THE SECOND GROUP OF PASSENGERS FOR THE ROUTE!!! Everyone in the trip was excited as this was the first time they flew on AirAsia (except me - a frequent flyer!!). Surprisingly, when we told our counterpart in the Birmingham Children's Hospital, they knew about the airline. Again, congratulations to you and the team for the good promotion. I have convinced them to fly with AirAsia when they come for their annual charity work at IJN in October. Everyone was excited when I mentioned the XL seats!! Well, as I texted you ... should also acknowledged that AirAsia X had also flown IJN's paediatric surgical team to London. Thanks to the partnership that AirAsia has with IJN Foundation via the Donate Your Loose Change Campaign. Hope to get the same treatment for the Birmingham Children's Hospital team because they will also be funded by the monies raised via the Campaign. Regards and Congratulations again, Alawiyah Hj Yussof IJN Foundation

hi tony WORLD CLASS SERVICE AT LOW CLASS PRICE at AirAsia.com Kini dengan AirAsia semuanya Murah,Cepat,Selamat,satu untuk semua,semua untuk satu. hahahha,bye

Hi Tony, I read with much envy on your success of creating a direct flight from KL to London with a much lower fare than MAS. Where were you when I was a poor,broke student in London scrambling to find the best fare to get home?
Like you, I was studying for that dreadful ACCA exams and couldn't wait to get home to eat my beloved Nasi Lemak, Roti Canai etc. etc.etc Now once again I am a displaced Malaysian abroad and waiting with much anticipation for Air AsiaX to spread its wings to the US, especially to the Paradise of the Pacific.....Honolulu.
Do you have any idea of what a tortorous journey it is to get back home for a taste of freshly made roti canai?MAS and SIN have long ago abandoned us here in Honolulu, I am at the mercy of JAL or the horrible US airlines who don't even fly direct to KL. Have to stop in Changi and sleep in those chairs before taking the first flight to KL.
If I take JAL, I have to spend a night in Tokyo on the way to KL, and on the way back I have an 11 hour layover at Tokyo airport. Once I flew Eva Air which had a 2 hour transit in Taipei but even they have stopped direct flights to KL.
So I am begging you to make Air AsiaX the FIRST Asian carrier to once again fly direct to Honolulu. Think about all those millions of wonderful tourists from Mainland America, Canada, Australia and Alaska who would love to take the flight back from Honolulu to KL and explore exotic Asia at bargain prices. I know I would. Spending Christmas in exotic Bali sounds a lot more appetising than Christmas with the wonderful relatives in boring Concord, CA. ( Don't fly there!!!)
If you ever decide to visit Honolulu and check out the potential, email me. Would love to show you around the Manhattan of the Pacific. Maybe you could even put up a Tunes Hotel Honolulu. You'd probably create a riot coz hotel rooms are so expensive here! Alohaaaaa!!!

Dato', as a Malaysian living in the US, I read about AirAsia's inaugural flight to London with envy. And i am very sure I am not alone. Iv heard that AirAsia is thinking about US-Msia route. Is this true Dato'? If it is, when do you think this 'dream' is going to materialise? Cheers!

Believe the unbelievable Dream the impossible Never take no for an answer Inspirational. Thank you.

Hi Just came across your site Also an Epsom College graduate Propert 1966-1971 brother and two sets of cousins went to Epsom as well Swimming team and chess Interesting 5 years.. Must say though, school taught me discipline and a great work ethic. Been living in the states since 1980 The OE club had a small reunion in Washington DC last year. Alot of fun Robert Knowles' Knowles Media Milford, Pa