Hogger60
15th Feb 2012, 10:30
Tony calls SIA’s name for Scoot ‘dumb’
By Lee Wei Lian
February 15, 2012
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/images/uploads/mugshots/tonyfernandes400px2.jpgKUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 – Tan Sri Tony Fernandes poured scorn on the name of Singapore Airline’s new budget carrier and said that it would not be serious competition for AirAsia X.
The AirAsia co-founder and chief executive also called Singapore Airlines “confused puppies” and said that “they should be available for sale anytime soon.”
The name of Singapore Airlines’ (SIA’s) Scoot had drawn much criticism since its unveiling last November with many saying it sounded “childish” and “not classy” and didn’t match Singapore Airlines’ prestigious image.
Scoot “has a really dumb name for a start,” Fernandes told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in an interview published February 13.
The Singapore Straits Times ran reactions to the name of SIA’s new airline when it was launched and many were not flattering.
“The word ‘scoot’ has many connotations. To me, it’s telling me to ‘go away’, like ‘shoo’,” said one respondent.
“It’s really called ‘Scoot’? At first, I thought it was a joke. No offence, SIA, but I think this new baby of yours really does not match your usual dignified image,” said another.
Some however defended the name.
“Perhaps people will soon take to saying, ‘I Scooted here’, or ‘Let’s Scoot out of here’ or ‘I am Scooting to Sydney’ and so on,” read one comment.
At its launch, Scoot said that it aimed to be different with its ‘short, sharp and snappy’ name.
Fernandes also told the WSJ that AirAsia X has the first mover advantage and shared the same brand name as AirAsia, allowing the longer-haul version to leverage an established low-cost airline and tap into a “huge network” of budget-airlines infrastructure, unlike Singapore Airlines’ Scoot.
He added that the Thai and Indonesian units of AirAsia will launch initial public offerings by the second quarter of this year and when asked by WSJ what AirAsia would do with the funds raised, the famously witty airline magnate joked that he would “buy Singapore Airlines.”
“They’re (Singapore Airlines) confused puppies… they should be available for sale anytime soon,” said Fernandes.
SIA, long one of the world’s most profitable airlines reported earlier this year that its net profit in its fiscal third quarter fell for the fifth quarter in a row and was down 53 per cent due to higher fuel costs.
AirAsia, Asia’s largest budget airline, also reported a 53 per cent slump in third quarter net profit.
When asked about his favourite airport in the region however, Fernandes answered, “It’s got to be Changi.”
By Lee Wei Lian
February 15, 2012
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/images/uploads/mugshots/tonyfernandes400px2.jpgKUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 – Tan Sri Tony Fernandes poured scorn on the name of Singapore Airline’s new budget carrier and said that it would not be serious competition for AirAsia X.
The AirAsia co-founder and chief executive also called Singapore Airlines “confused puppies” and said that “they should be available for sale anytime soon.”
The name of Singapore Airlines’ (SIA’s) Scoot had drawn much criticism since its unveiling last November with many saying it sounded “childish” and “not classy” and didn’t match Singapore Airlines’ prestigious image.
Scoot “has a really dumb name for a start,” Fernandes told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in an interview published February 13.
The Singapore Straits Times ran reactions to the name of SIA’s new airline when it was launched and many were not flattering.
“The word ‘scoot’ has many connotations. To me, it’s telling me to ‘go away’, like ‘shoo’,” said one respondent.
“It’s really called ‘Scoot’? At first, I thought it was a joke. No offence, SIA, but I think this new baby of yours really does not match your usual dignified image,” said another.
Some however defended the name.
“Perhaps people will soon take to saying, ‘I Scooted here’, or ‘Let’s Scoot out of here’ or ‘I am Scooting to Sydney’ and so on,” read one comment.
At its launch, Scoot said that it aimed to be different with its ‘short, sharp and snappy’ name.
Fernandes also told the WSJ that AirAsia X has the first mover advantage and shared the same brand name as AirAsia, allowing the longer-haul version to leverage an established low-cost airline and tap into a “huge network” of budget-airlines infrastructure, unlike Singapore Airlines’ Scoot.
He added that the Thai and Indonesian units of AirAsia will launch initial public offerings by the second quarter of this year and when asked by WSJ what AirAsia would do with the funds raised, the famously witty airline magnate joked that he would “buy Singapore Airlines.”
“They’re (Singapore Airlines) confused puppies… they should be available for sale anytime soon,” said Fernandes.
SIA, long one of the world’s most profitable airlines reported earlier this year that its net profit in its fiscal third quarter fell for the fifth quarter in a row and was down 53 per cent due to higher fuel costs.
AirAsia, Asia’s largest budget airline, also reported a 53 per cent slump in third quarter net profit.
When asked about his favourite airport in the region however, Fernandes answered, “It’s got to be Changi.”
