Tony Fernandes: AirAsia intends to become Asia’s leading meal delivery and ride hailing firm

Malaysia – After the recent fruitful purchase of local online meal delivery service provider Delivereat, AirAsia Group intends to become Asia’s leading food delivery and ride-hailing firm, in addition to only operating flights in the region.

Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, AirAsia’s chief executive officer (CEO), expressed confidence that the company’s food and super app may become one of Asia’s largest meal delivery, ride-hailing, and online travel agencies.

“I always questioned when I launched AirAsia if we could become the largest airline, and we did.  We are Asia’s fourth largest airline. We began just with two planes and 200,000 passengers, and have since expanded to 90 million number of passengers.

In a news conference, he said that this is why he took a step back and wonder whether they can become the largest food delivery and ride hailing service in the world.  

“Today, I formally say, I believe we can. I believe we can outgrow the current competitors in the same manner we outgrew previous airlines,” he added.

In the near future, Fernandes hopes to expand the app’s entire range of services to Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines.

Earlier, Fernandes announced the installation of Tan Suan Sear, the creator of Delivereat, as the group head of airasia food for the airasia Super App, and Leong Shir Mein as the head of on-demand for AirAsia’s delivery arm, Teleport.

He stated that collaboration is extremely important to the firm’s aim of continuing to serve the underprivileged and become the top value delivery company in the region.

Fernandes also expressed his admiration for Delivereat, a local delivery service that can operate on its own, maintains sustainability in its operations, and provides an economic and career platform to the public. Last August, AirAsia’s digital logistics company Teleport agreed to pay US$9.8 million (RM40 million) for a 100% equity stake in Delivereat in order to improve its delivery service in the nation.