AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes Criticizes Singapore Airlines In-Flight Dining After Booking Flight
AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes posted a critique of Singapore Airlines in-flight dining on Instagram on October 1, after failing to secure a seat on an AirAsia flight. Fernandes praised the carrier’s customer service and internet connectivity as exceptional, food.detik.com reported. However, he described the meal service as inferior to his own airline’s offerings.
Comparing Santan Meals Against Singapore Airlines Catering
Fernandes posted photographs from his journey on the 62-year-old executive’s personal social media account, writing that AirAsia’s in-flight food brand, Santan, is superior. Santan is way, way better, and the cabin crew admitted it too,
Fernandes wrote in his photo caption. Santan serves ASEAN-style dishes like nasi lemak and chicken rice on the budget carrier’s flights. The post coincided with Singapore Airlines rolling out over 100 new or updated menu items across all cabin classes, following its recognition by Skytrax as the World’s Best Airline and World’s Best Economy Class Catering.
Public Reaction and Social Media Debate Over Service Standards
The Instagram post drew diverse reactions from online users comparing the two airlines. While some commenters agreed with Fernandes regarding Santan’s menu, others highlighted Singapore Airlines’ punctuality and more generous legroom. Other internet users questioned why the AirAsia CEO needed to book a competitor’s flight in the first place, with comments asking if an AirAsia flight delay or cancellation forced the booking. Neither Fernandes nor AirAsia representatives have responded to the public commentary surrounding the post.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Airline Executives Travel
Why did Tony Fernandes fly on Singapore Airlines?
Fernandes flew on Singapore Airlines after failing to secure a seat on an AirAsia flight, according to his October 1 Instagram post.
What is Santan?
Santan is the in-flight food brand owned by AirAsia that serves ASEAN-style dishes such as nasi lemak and chicken rice.
What awards has Singapore Airlines recently received?
Singapore Airlines was named World’s Best Airline and received the award for World’s Best Economy Class Catering from the aviation rating organization Skytrax.
Have AirAsia or Tony Fernandes issued further statements?
Neither Fernandes nor the AirAsia management team has provided additional responses to the online commentary generated by the post.