The source for all Tourism, Hotel and Real Estate news in Phuket.

AirAsia Fernandez's Comments Stir Thai Tiger Feud

Insider Story Locations

Find our most recent stories tagged by their locations. Click here for more story locations.

Posted: 04 Nov 2010 | 11:01 am

The battle for supremacy of Thailand's skies has taken a nasty turn back of comments by AirAsia Chief Executive Tony Fernandez which have been termed 'racist' in the media.

According to an interview with Mr. Fernandez in the Bangkok Post, the first volley started with "We're Asians, not a bunch of white guys running the airline."

To read the interview CLICK

This was in reference to the new low cost venture between Thai Airways International and Tiger Airways or more pointed at the Singapore based airline. The joint venture is set to launch next year and Phuket figures prominently in its planning.

Both Tony David CEO of Tiger and Mr. Fernandez through his blog and in the press have continued to exchange barbs.

For now the fight have moved into social media circles over which airline is better, though expect fireworks not seen in inter-airline rivalry since the famed Richard Branson Virgin - British Airways debacle a number of years ago.

DO YOU LIKE THIS?

Agree with SLB, I'd rather pay a few hundred more for TG, than being treated like cattle on Air Asia...Also I find his remarks racist.

Ian, 12 Nov 2010 | 10:09 am

The current President of TG is well-rounded, proven, business man. Perhaps his choice of Tiger as partner is questionable to us. But we do not know the insides of the deal.....

As for a bunch a white guys running an airline, well perhaps Fenandez better go and meet the inner circle running Emirates or Qatar or Cathay and he can see that they have done okay in their chosen field? At least they don't make their money 'raping' their customers for excess fees for 1 or 2 kg of extra weight or selling crappy merchandise.....

Or maybe he can just take jet travel back to the 70's by not using aero-bridges, and merely offer the 'privilege' to fly..

Wake up Tony!

SLB, 05 Nov 2010 | 12:45 am

Insider up to the Minute

Cool Hunting - On the Web

Too cool for school Patong boutique hotel Ella
www.theellagroup.org

Burned out on TripAdvisor, check out gogobot
www.gogobot.com

Fast growing online restaurant review site
www.zomato.com

PHUKET WEATHER

The Green Report

A column featuring environmental issues and conservation around the island. Click here for more Green Reports check out the latest story from the leading experts:

Vietnamese Green Architect Hits Limelight

Vietnam's Vo Trong Nghia is continuing to attract worldwide attention over unique sustainable design.

They Call It Parklet

Now here is a newly coined term on the environmental horizon - Parklet.