AirAsia’s Fernandes Caterham Jet Acquired Berjaya Air

[KK Lee 5]

Caterham Jet is unlikely to have private jet or first class configuration but European regional setting.

 

For short haul, premium service could mean serve a better meal than MH snackbox and offer beer, sparkling wine and brewed coffee.

 

Regional using 50 to 100 seat ERJ/CRJ is a proven business model in Europe and the U.S. e.g. LH, KL, AF, etc and particularly important to feed pax to the mainline from secondary cities.

 

By operating from SZB, will be like LCY, HND, SHA which are nearer to city center and can command premium pricing.

 

If the service is regular i.e. multiple daily to SIN, BKK, BKI, KCH, PEN, CGK, etc, MH and FY will under huge pressure for yield.

[Waiping 12]

Well cattle-ham sounds delicious enough.

[Izanee 0]

Saw good ol' uncle tony last saturday in a malaysian restaurant in london. thank god QPR lost, my friend would have stood up and announced to the restaurant everything is on uncle Tony if they won!!

 

I wanted to tell him what a sneaky bugger he was but i didn't want to lose my appetite. plus it was Raya the next day.

Edited November 12, 2011 by Izanee

[flee 5]

Tony Fernandes says premium airline being mulled, to involve MAS

By Lee Wei Lian

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 — Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said he has ideas for a super premium airline but declined to reveal the name or other details.

 

The AirAsia co-founder said any new super premium airline would involve Malaysia Airlines.

 

“There is a wonderful opportunity for those (travellers) who don’t want to queue up,” he told reporters. “But whether we can make it work who knows.”

 

MORE TO COME

 

Source

[Arzman 0]

Tony Fernandes says premium airline being mulled, to involve MAS

By Lee Wei Lian

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 — Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said he has ideas for a super premium airline but declined to reveal the name or other details.

 

The AirAsia co-founder said any new super premium airline would involve Malaysia Airlines.

 

“There is a wonderful opportunity for those (travellers) who don’t want to queue up,” he told reporters. “But whether we can make it work who knows.”

 

MORE TO COME

 

Source

 

 

Yeah only to train the cabin crew, just what MH did for Etihad and Emirates in their early years CMIIW

[flee 5]

Fernandes : Super-premium Airline Plan Only An Idea

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 (Bernama)-- Group CEO of AirAsia Tan Sri Tony Fernandes today refuted news reports that he is planning to firm up the commencement of operations of a new super-premium regional airline called Caterham Jet.

 

It is only an idea, he told reporters here.

 

"There is no Caterham as what is reported in the press," he explained.

 

However, he said, the idea of a new super-premium airline not yet available in the Asean market is a good one.

 

He added that any involvement of such a super-premium airline, which will provide a more business-friendly and hassle-free service than conventional airlines, will lead to Malaysia Airlines.

 

With the collaboration between AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines, he said, it would be beneficial for the Malaysian aviation industry as both airlines would stand to benefit from the collaboration.

 

He said it would also help both airlines to expand and be profitable.

 

Foreign news wires, quoting unnamed aviation sources, reported that Fernandes plans to start a new regional super-premium airline called Caterham Jet to compete with Australian carrier Qantas.

[CH Teo 0]

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - AirAsia chief Tony Fernandes revealed on Monday his plans to start a new super-premium regional airline in partnership with national carrier Malaysia Airlines.

 

'Here is another idea that has come out of AirAsia which will create more more value, more jobs and more business.

 

'If an idea like this does materialise... it will definitely involve Malaysia Airlines,' he told reporters.

 

Mr Fernandes said the proposed short-haul carrier would cater largely to business travellers, among others, who need to travel across the region quickly.

 

Sources:- http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Money/Story/STIStory_733822.html

[Izanee 0]

lidah putar belit, stop talking to us like we are kids. And please uncle tony, no more bullshit

[Mike P 0]

So conclusion is TF is just merely pushing for MH.

[Cire 0]

There's some undisclosed agreements between TF's 1MRT F1 team and Lotus, as reported in the star online.

It appears that TF's racing team will be re-named to Caterham F1, and will use Caterham chassis. Wow...English chassis. Caterham is famous for its Caterham 7 open cockpit sports car.

 

PETALING JAYA: The legal dispute between Proton Holdings Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary Group Lotus plc and 1 Malaysia Racing Team Sdn Bhd (1MRT) in the English Courts relating to the “Lotus” and “Team Lotus” brands has ended amicably with the parties agreeing to the settlement terms earlier this month.

 

In a statement to Bursa Malaysia, Proton said the terms of the settlement were confidential but the deal would see the “Lotus” brand reunited under the sole ownership of Group Lotus. This included the rights to the “Lotus” and “Team Lotus” names in Formula 1 motor racing.

 

To recap, Group Lotus had issued a licence to 1MRT to use the “Lotus Racing” name in Formula 1 Racing in December 2009. Following breaches by 1MRT, Group Lotus issued notice to terminate the said licence in August 2010.

 

The termination of the said licence under the licence agreement prevented 1MRT from using the “Lotus” name, including for the 2011 Formula 1 season.

 

1MRT, however, made known its intention to continue using the “Lotus” name in Formula 1 for the 2011 season despite the termination of the said licence and initiated proceedings against Group Lotus in the English Court.

 

Group Lotus then in October 2010 issued proceedings in the English High Court against 1MRT, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes personally, and the companies associated with him, including Team Lotus Ventures Ltd, its parent company Tune Group Sdn Bhd and 1Malaysia Racing Team (UK) Ltd.

 

Proton said that following the end of the legal dispute, 1MRT would race in the 2012 Formula 1 season under the name “Caterham F1 Team” and would use a “Caterham” chassis.

 

“The deal also sees a working relationship established between the parties and they will work together on future projects in the automotive field,” Proton said.-star online

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

Caterham Jet has chosen Peter Leiman as its leader - he's the co-founder of UK air taxi operator Blink.

 

Don't Blink: The Man Behind Caterham Jet

[alberttky 0]

Any update on this airline?

[Ikman Ikreza 0]

Still waiting latest news for AirAsia Caterham project. Looks like the plane is now ready to take off sooner.

 

AirAsia Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express 9M-CJG spotted by Akin Diler in Istanbul on 1st Feb.

 

http://www.airliners.net/photo/AirAsia/Bombardier-BD-700-1A10-Global/2226604/L/&sid=b08994bdfd2b9cb7e6e23280da2e2ada

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

Still waiting latest news for AirAsia Caterham project. Looks like the plane is now ready to take off sooner.

 

AirAsia Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express 9M-CJG spotted by Akin Diler in Istanbul on 1st Feb.

 

http://www.airliners.net/photo/AirAsia/Bombardier-BD-700-1A10-Global/2226604/L/&sid=b08994bdfd2b9cb7e6e23280da2e2ada

I've seen this plane a couple of times at SZB, but I think it's more for personal use.

[S M Tang 0]

This is the plane you should be looking out for. Rumoured to be the first aircraft for Caterham Jet but so far, no news yet.

 

Edited February 16, 2013 by S M Tang

[michgyver 0]

[Cheng Long 0]

Nice..

 

I'm surprised there have been so little publicity considering the personality of TF.

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

Nice..

 

I'm surprised there have been so little publicity considering the personality of TF.

 

I think that because this is for personal use, it would not be wise to publicise as it can be fodder for bashers I guess.

Edited February 18, 2013 by Mohd Suhaimi Fariz

[Gavin Andrew David 6]

All aircraft for the caterham should be CRJ 200s

[alberttky 0]

Any latest update on this airline? Heard they're applying for a Singapore AOC.

[Mulyadir Fitri 0]

So based in XSP? Could not be SIN as it's difficult to secure overnight parking spots there. Operating out of XSP will be very expensive but I guess with their target market that will not be a problem.

[alberttky 0]

Malaysia's Caterham Jet has signed a preliminary agreement to buy a majority stake in Berjaya Air that could see the super-premium carrier taking to the skies as early as January if local regulators approve its routes, say sources.

AirAsia chief Tan Sri Tony Fernandes had announced Caterham Jet's plans two years ago but it failed to get a Malaysian air operator certificate (AOC) that would allow it to run a commercial jet operation from Subang Skypark.

The Malaysian Insider understands that Fernandes and partner Datuk Kamaruddin Meranun have struck a deal where their Tune Air Sdn Bhd will acquire at least 51% of tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan's Berjaya Air, which has a full AOC to operate from Subang Skypark. Tune Air is a major shareholder in Asia's biggest budget carrier, AirAsia.

The Department of Civil Aviation now only allows turbo-prop planes to carry passengers on a commercial basis from Subang Skypark. But a thriving private jet business is growing at the airport, the nearest commercial airport to capital Kuala Lumpur.

"There is a deal on the table between Tune Air and Berjaya. Now, it is up to the regulators to approve it and Caterham Jet can start as soon as that happens," a source told The Malaysian Insider.

"The regulators are to meet soon on this before the year ends," he added.

In November 2011, Fernandes had said he was launching a new premium airline called Caterham Jet to compete with Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines as well as the recently announced RedQ premium airline from Qantas, aimed at high-flying executives travelling in Asia.

The Sun Daily had reported that the regional airline would initially fly a Bombardier CRJ700, serving Bangkok, Jakarta and Singapore from Subang Skypark outside Kuala Lumpur.

The super-premium jet carrier would charge business-class fares but could appeal to businessmen who want a quicker ride from a smaller airport nearer the city rather than take red-eye flights out of KLIA, the international airport which is 70km from Kuala Lumpur.

Tune Air officials have remained tight-lipped about Caterham Jet but Kamaruddin told The Malaysian Insider recently that they had two Bombardier CRJ700 jets that were available immediately to start operations.

Another six were on order and would be delivered soon, he said.

Apart from regional routes, sources said Caterham Jet was eyeing other regional markets including the Middle East which has several premium carriers such as Emirates, Etihad and Gulf Air apart from tycoons who own personal jets.

"There is a market for chief executives and others, be it in Southeast Asia or the Middle East. Something like Caterham Jet has huge potential," an aviation source said.

Caterham Jet would increase business in Subang Skypark where Berjaya Air has turbo-prop flights using the De Havilland Dash 7 and ATR 72 planes to destinations such as Langkawi, Pangkor, Penang, Redang, Tioman and international destinations Hua Hin and Singapore.

The other carriers operating out of Subang Skypark are Malaysia Airlines' Firefly and Malaysian-Indonesian joint-venture Malindo Air. – November 18, 2013.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/caterham-jet-could-fly-as-early-as-next-year-say-sources

[KK Lee 5]

Good to have competition at SZB CRJ will have an edge on comfort level and speed over ATR, foresee ATR operators price will be depressed

[Tamizi Hj Tamby 1]

Looking forward to it; However does that mean it's the end of the Berjaya Air?

[Arthur Van Straten 0]

I was intrigued by this line, " AirAsia chief Tan Sri Tony Fernandes had announced Caterham Jet's plans two years ago but it failed to get a Malaysian air operator certificate (AOC) that would allow it to run a commercial jet operation from Subang Skypark."

 

So, if it was denied two years ago, did the underlying fundamentels have changed in the mean time to expect the DCA give their approval this time?

Or, am i looking too deep into it and it is just one of them endless possibilities?

That if you just buy into an excisting turboprop operator with traffic rights from SZB, upgrade their AOC towards jet operations and "presto", all is cool?

 

Or, conspiracy mode on, Berjaya Air need some help?

 

The Red Ones keep the entertainment level high.

 

Cheers

A.

Edited November 18, 2013 by Arthur Van Straten