Living up to his famous phrase, “Believe the unbelievable, dream the impossible, never take ‘no’ for an answer”, AirAsia Group boss Tony Fernandes continues to dream big.
This time around, his dream is to break new ground in the private jet sector — offering speed and exclusivity in air travel but at an affordable price.
The Malaysian entrepreneur has shared his latest brainchild with associates including Thai AirAsia chief executive Tassapon Bijleveld in a model that incorporates the “affordability and accessibility” concept forming the core of all his business models including his no-frills airline.
The proposed concept may bring perceptions of high-flying extravagance and top prices for this mode of travel down to earth.
“The cost of travelling by private jet today is exorbitant, and Mr Fernandes wants to bring it down to a more appropriate level so it can be affordable to a broader range of travellers,” Mr Tassapon told the Bangkok Post.
Travellers now pay up to US$10,000 an hour to fly by the aircraft, which are also often referred to as corporate or business jets.
Mr Tassapon said the planned private jet business was being “conceptualised”, targeting corporate and leisure travellers in this region who found the current private jet charter fees excessive.
Improved regional economies are also propelling demand for private jet travel, he said.
But Mr Tasspon said the venture would not come under the AirAsia parent or Thai AirAsia but an extension of the Tune Group founded by Mr Fernandes and his corporate partner Kamarudin Meranun.
The Malaysia-based Tune Group’s companies are Tune Air (a substantial shareholder in AirAsia Group), Tune Hotels, Tune Money, Tune Insurance, Tune Talk, Think Big Digital, Tune Box, Tune Studios, the Queens Park Rangers Football Club and Epsom College in Malaysia.
That is why the tentative name is Tune Jet, and if given a green light, it could take to the skies in another year or two, Mr Tassapon said.
Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore are candidates for its base.