Asia-Pacific: March 2009 Archives

It has taken AirAsia group chief executive Tony Fernandes eight years to realise one of his long-held dreams - to launch a long-haul, low-cost carrier flying between Asia and Europe - and thus emulate a childhood hero in the guise of Sir Freddie Laker.

On Wednesday 11 March the dream airline - AirAsia X - made its first flight. The Airbus A340-300, an ex-Air Canada example, arrived at London Stansted Airport 20 minutes early after the 10-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur.

The party to celebrate the launch kicked off at Altitude 360, a venue 29 floors above the London skyline.

Listen to the edited highlights of Tony's speech at the event, including how the idea came up in the first place, what he owes to Sir Freddie Laker and how West Ham United and tatoos come into the story.

Listen over the din of the party to what AirAsia X chief executive Azran Osman-Rani had to say about the plans for the carrier.

Girl band The Saturdays turned up to join in the fun and sing a tune or two.

Here's what the AirAsia bloggers made of it all, with lots of pictures.

And here's what Tony Fernandes said after taking delivery of AirAsia X's Airbus A340-300 on his blog.

And finally, Tony shares a joke at the party with HRH The Duke of York, the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, who is said to have been instrumental in helping persuade AirAsia to buy International Aero Engine V2500s for its A320 fleet (Rolls-Royce has a stake in IAE).

Kingfisher Airlines chairman and Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya has splashed the cash on a totally different kind of purchase, far removed from the bling he's normally associated with. Mallya has spent $1.8 million on a selection of possessions belonging to Indian peace activist and political leader Mahatma Gandhi.

The possessions, which were controversially auctioned off in New York, include a pair of sandals, a pocket watch and Gandhi's trademark round spectacles.

I'm not sure what Gandhi - who was assassinated in 1948 - would make of the fact that somebody has spent such an enormous amount of money on these few possessions. After all, he lived very simply and did not embrace materialism. But maybe he'd be pleased that such a major part of India's history is being returned to India.

Mallya - often referred to as India's Richard Branson - is more commonly associated with spending his millions on things like Formula 1 motor racing, but perhaps this latest purchase shows a more spiritual side of his flamboyant personality.

Take a look at our cover interview with Mallya from 2006, and also our web video of the man himself from last year's Farnborough air show.