Letters from the Equator

The Star has it: article

Since MAS can’t do a proper job of it, they’re letting the cheap people fly out to UK on FAX airlines.

KUALA LUMPUR: Fly Asian Express (FAX) will fly its long-haul operations using the brand Air Asia X, under franchise from AirAsia, starting July.
The flights will have two classes – super economy and economy. In-flight entertainment and food will be available for purchase onboard.
Fares to London will start as low as RM9.99, excluding tax and surcharges.
FAX has been given rights to operate long-haul flights to destinations in Asia, Australia and Europe.
AirAsia CEO Datuk Tony Fernandes has a 50% stake in FAX. The other two FAX shareholders are AirAsia deputy chief executive Kamarudin Meranum (30%) and former AirAsia chief financial officer Raja Azmi Raja Razali (20%), who is also FAX CEO.

Various thoughts of long-haul budget flights are starting to creep in:

• mineral water for RM7, and no complimentary water means long lines to poorly maintained aircraft toilets
• Cheap flights but super high taxes and surcharges means you’ll end up paying at least 5 times more
• Low baggage limits means you’ll have to wear the same old clothes again and again
• A surge of first time fliers will cause some problems, where attendants will have to read through huge lists of airplane etiquette alongside the mandatory safety instructions
  
• More affordable shorter-range planes will mean multiple stops at low cost terminals at international locations, hopefully not more than 10

Either way, it’s going to be a blast. This stuff begins in July. Will they take orders now? Hehe…