Jaunted

AirAsia

Tony Fernandes Will Gladly Buy Your $140 Oil

June 16, 2008 at 12:30 PM | 2 Comments

AirAsia CEO and Richard Branson buddy Tony Fernandes says the high fuel prices that are killing American carriers don't bother him. As a matter of fact, he thinks the SARS scare was way worse--at least for his business:

We are comfortable even with oil at US$200 (a barrel). There is a silver lining. We have taken a very different approach in that we will market ourselves out of this problem. We think that just putting your head in the sand and crying about oil and cutting routes is not the solution.

So what's the magic solution Fernandes has? Selling stuff. Expect to see more duty free shopping as well as more (and likely more expensive) food and beverage service. And it might not even stop there:

We will sell washing machines if we have to.

Related Stories:
· Budget Airline AirAsia Can Stay Profitable at $200 a Barrel [AP, via IHT]
· AirAsia Boss Has Really Big Plans [Jaunted]
· AirAsia coverage [Jaunted]
· Low Cost Carriers coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: lastsham]