Tony Fernandes is one of Asia’s most prominent entrepreneurs, best known for co-founding AirAsia in 2001 with Datuk Kamarudin Meranun. Together, they transformed the struggling airline, acquired for just MYR1 and MYR40 million in debt, into Asia’s leading low-cost carrier within two years, revolutionising air travel across the region.
Since 2018, Fernandes has been spearheading a digital transformation of his businesses, launching AirAsia’s super app in October 2020, a comprehensive travel and lifestyle platform which offers flights, hotels, e-hailing services, food, and edutech products. He is currently the CEO of Capital A, an investment holding company with a diverse portfolio of synergistic businesses, including aviation, fintech BigPay, and logistics venture Teleport.
Educated at Epsom College and the London School of Economics, Fernandes trained as an accountant and became a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. He began his career with the Virgin Group before returning to Malaysia as Vice President of Warner Music Southeast Asia, eventually making the leap into aviation and tech entrepreneurship.
A man of many passions, Fernandes also entered Formula One with Team Lotus, founded the Tune Hotels budget chain, and champions sports development in the region as president of the ASEAN Basketball League. He hosted The Apprentice Asia and is chairman of the Board of Governors of Epsom College in Kuala Lumpur.
Throughout his career, Fernandes has received numerous accolades, These include the Honour of the Commander of the Order of the British Empire, conferred by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2011, and the Commander of the Legion d’Honneur, awarded by the French government for his outstanding contributions towards the economy of France through the aviation industry. He also received the Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM) award, earning him the title Tan Sri.
