By Wong Kim Hoh, Senior Writer

THE current economic turbulence may be sending many airlines into a tailspin but Air Asia founder Tony Fernandes looks like anything but a man under siege.

Asia's biggest budget airline is not laying off staff, cutting wages or scaling back operations.

On the contrary, it has scrapped its fuel surcharge, ordered more than 150 new Airbus 320s, stepped up flights between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, opened a new route to India and will be flying from Kuala Lumpur to London's Stansted airport in March.

75-strong fleet, over 400 flights daily

MR TONY FERNANDES, 45, is the chief executive officer of Air Asia and its long-haul affiliate Air Asia X.

The world's fastest-growing low-cost airline has a fleet of 75 aircraft, plies more than 150 domestic and international routes, and operates over 400 flights daily from hubs in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

For the first half of this year, Air Asia recorded a net profit of RM170.7 million (S$70.6 million). It won Best Asian Low Cost Carrier 2008 (TTG Travel Awards).

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