Sir Richard Branson to Become AirAsia X Flight Attendant

Aviation history will be made on Sunday, 12 May, 2013, as AirAsia X’s flight D7 237 departs Perth for Kuala Lumpur at 06:50 (WST) with Sir Richard Branson serving on board as a flight attendant.

The Virgin Group entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson, will shave his legs, slip into a red skirt and take to the skies as a female flight attendant next month as part of a long-anticipated wager with AirAsia.

Sir Richard and Tony Fernandes had wagered on which one of their Formula One racing teams (then Virgin and Lotus) would finish ahead of each other in their debut season of the 2010 Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, and that the loser would serve as a female flight attendant on board the winner's airline. Tony Fernandes' then Team Lotus finished two spots above Sir Richard’s Marussia Virgin Racing team in the final rankings.

The opportunity to join two of the most illustrious characters in aviation and make history, 35,000 feet in the sky all in the name of charity is now available for booking until 12 May, 2013 (or until seats are sold out) for travel on 12 May, 2013.

Fares on the flight will cost A$399 one way, with A$100 from each seat to be donated by AirAsia X to the Starlight Children’s Foundation in Australia. The airline will also donate 10% of all inflight sales including duty free merchandise sold on board the flight to the foundation. Guests will also have an opportunity to make donations on board the special flight. Terms and conditions apply.

“The day of reckoning for Sir Richard has finally arrived,” Mr Fernandes said. “Both [Sir] Richard and I have come full circle and who would have thought my mentor will be serving as a flight attendant on AirAsia. It’s an awkward moment when you go down memory lane and recall the times I used to work for Richard. And it’s hilarious to think now, that it’s [Sir] Richard who will be working for me as a sassy flight attendant. As an AirAsia X’s flight attendant, he has to comply with our grooming standards and that includes shaving his legs, donning high heels, putting on some makeup and slipping into the AirAsia’s famous red uniform. He will be committed to carry out the responsibilities of a flight attendant, including offering coffee, tea and other food and beverages to guests on the special 6-hour Perth to Kuala Lumpur flight. You never know, it might just be you being served by the legendary, dedicated flight attendant Sir Richard on this once-in-a-lifetime flight, and there’s no better way in honouring his loss in the wager by donating to a charity organisation like Starlight Children Foundation.”

The Starlight Children Foundation was established in Australia 1988 and this year celebrating its 25th year, Starlight is dedicated to brightening the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children, and their families, around the country.

“I’ve done some outrageous things in my time but this will be up there with the best of them,” Sir Richard said. “Tony won our bet fair and square and I’m a man of my word - so I will dress up and make a splash in the name of Starlight, a fantastic charity. I’ve just got to practice walking in high heels first.”

The charity flight will also be filled with fun games and activities for the guests.

Azran Osman Rani, CEO of AirAsia X said, “We are excited to have Sir Richard on-board AirAsia X’s flight from Perth to Kuala Lumpur this May. Both Richard and Tony are two prominent entrepreneurial figures in aviation, and sports which is a testament that we can achieve anything if we are fuelled by passion, grit, determination and never take no for an answer. I am also glad that we are able to contribute to those in need through this charity flight.”