'Stewardess' Branson to serve passengers on AirAsia X flight

Sir Richard Branson (left) and Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes being measured for stewardess uniforms at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tickets for an AirAsia X flight from London to Kuala Lumpur on which passengers will be served by Sir Richard Branson and from which proceeds will be donated to charity will be auctioned on eBay shortly. Having lost his bet with counterpart Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, Virgin Atlantic's Branson will be decked in a rival AirAsia X air stewardess uniform and work the aisle on board that flight. Fernandes, who co-owns the Lotus Racing Formula One team, and Branson, who owns Virgin Racing, had made a pre-season bet between themselves in which the loser would dress as a stewardess and serve on board the winner's airline. 

Lotus Racing just concluded Formula One season in 10th position in the constructors' standing, ahead of Virgin, which finished last. Though neither team scored a single championship point in any of the 19 races through the season, an alternative system based on finishing positions, in which Lotus outraced Virgin in most races, was used. The positions will also determine the order of race numbers on the cars for next season. Fernandes and Branson already had themselves measured on Saturday and right after the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, Branson visited the Lotus Racing pit at the Yas Marina Circuit where he was issued his AirAsia X stewardess uniform and a name tag that read 'Richard Branson - Flight Attendant'. 

"The flight will be from London to Kuala Lumpur and we'll be announcing the date soon. The tickets will be auctioned on eBay and the proceeds will be donated to charity," said Fernandes. "This is a great opportunity for our passengers to come on board and be served by our newest flight attendant, Richard Branson." Fernandes said Lotus had achieved what they had set out to do this season, which was to finish ahead of the two other new teams in Formula One -- Virgin and Hispania -- and would be looking to move further up next season.

-New Straits Times, Malaysia.