Fernandes quits football club QPR to focus on AirAsia expansion

Airlines have more outspoken characters; names like Willie Walsh, Michael O’Leary, Tim Clark, Stelios Haji-Ioannou and Akbar Al Baker always come to mind. However, no list would be complete without AirAsia’s passionate boss, Tony Fernandes, who keeps up to date with the news.

Time to expand AirAsia

Yesterday, Tony Fernandes appeared on the news again, this time announcing that he was leaving the world of football and the English Premier League. He sold off his stake in QPR Holdings Limited, the parent company of Queens Park Rangers Football Club, a strong UK team and one of the London-based teams to be watched. much.

With corporations worldwide lining up to buy Premier League teams, why would Fernandes leave his passionate relationship with Queens Park Rangers (QPR)? The simple answer is that his passion for AirAsia and the digital side of the business Capital A needs him more.

Photo: Airbus

Fernandes said that while leaving QPR was a difficult decision, he made it clear that his time and expertise were needed elsewhere. As he said:

«My time with QPR was filled with unforgettable ups and downs. On the pitch, there were special victories, the highest of which was promotion to the Premier League at Wembley Stadium. Off the field, QPR is famous. being a real community driven company the football club is something that I will always be proud of.»

«Now that AirAsia is getting back to full speed and growth again, I owe it to Allstars and our shareholders for our 100% focus on rebuilding our airline business and expanding our businesses. our digital company to bring tremendous value to the people of Asean where there is strong demand for low-cost, high-value products and services.»

He also believes that the corporation has the right foundation for an exciting and profitable future that doesn’t rely solely on airline tickets for success. His immediate agenda includes aggressive expansion plans for airlines in Asia and beyond, and development of all other affiliated businesses in the Capital A ecosystem. UK It will also focus on the canonization plan to lift Capital A from its current Practice Note 17 (PN17) status, adding:

«I’m encouraged that exiting PN17 is on the right track. Strengthening our balance sheet and building strong growth modes across all of our businesses from aviation to logistics. , travel and fintech digital business and airline services are also accelerating.»

AirAsia launches direct flight from Bangkok to Colombo

Returning to the airline business, AirAsia Thailand has resumed direct flights between Bangkok and the Sri Lankan capital Colombo. Yesterday, flight FD140 left Bangkok Don Mueang International (DMK) at 19:56 and arrived at Colombo Bandaranaike International (CMB) of Sri Lanka at 21:25. The return flight left Colombo at 23:08 and landed in Bangkok at 03:48 this morning.

Photo: Airbus

The flight was operated by Airbus A320-200 aircraft registered 2013 HS-BBT and MSN 5420, having a busy day with ten flights starting at 06:33 and ending nearly 24 hours later at 03:48. Today. The A320 is often described as a packhorse, its durability and reliability well suited for low-cost airlines like AirAsia. Using the Bangkok DMK as its hub, the aircraft has operated return flights to Udon Thani (UTH), Chiang Mai (CNX) twice, Phitsanulok (PHS) and Colombo.

The Bangkok – Colombo route will operate four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with promotional one-way fares from THB 2,990 ($85). Along with its natural beauty, pristine beaches and safaris, Sri Lanka is an important destination for Buddhists around the world. A major attraction is the World Heritage-listed Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, while the forest-bound Sigiriya is often referred to as Asia’s Machu Picchu.

How does AirAsia work after COVID? Let us know in the comments section.