Asia's budget carrier in big deals to retain lead

Singapore

EARLIER this year over Iranian food in London, Tony Fernandes was discussing the outlines of his most audacious aircraft purchase yet with two Airbus Group executives. When it came time to pay, neither of the planemaker's top brass had the required cash, so Mr Fernandes picked up the tab.

Such loyal support for the European manufacturer has become a hallmark of Mr Fernandes and AirAsia Bhd, the Malaysian discount carrier he built over the last decade and a half into the biggest operator of Airbus single-aisle aircraft.