Malaysia’s AirAsia aims to be ‘more than an airline’ as coronavirus cripples aviation

With air travel crippled by the Covid-19 pandemic, AirAsia led by its founder Tony Fernandes – often touted as the “Richard Branson of Asia” – has been vigorously stepping up the budget carrier’s year-long diversification plan. As the pandemic’s true extent became apparent last May, the Malaysia-based regional budget carrier launched a food delivery business in Kuala Lumpur that gained traction among citizens who were at the time under a strict partial lockdown. The endeavour has since expanded to other Malaysian cities and neighbouring Singapore, with ventures in other hubs in Southeast Asia expected soon. Also in the works, according to recent interviews by Fernandes, are plans for offshoots in ride-hailing fresh grocery delivery air taxis, and drone delivery services.<br/>Fernandes has long touted AirAsia’s large digital customer base that he hoped would make it a “super app” much in the mould of regional behemoth Grab. “[There are] two ways to deal with life, you can put your head in the sand and cry and say life is unfair. Or we can go ahead and do something about it,” Fernandes said. “Why waste a crisis? We haven’t wasted this crisis.” <br/>