RE: Caterham F1 - WTF?

[forzaminardi]

RoverP6B said:

toppstuff said:

Who clearly doesn't know much about the airline business and TF's activities in it...

Could you elucidate further please? I used to be involved in the airline business (ran Air Anglia/AirUK flight ops at Aberdeen in the late '70s into '80) and I try to keep abreast of what's going on in case I ever find myself back in that business (however unlikely it may be). As far as I was aware, AirAsia's reputation was no worse than any other comparable low-cost airline and better than some (e.g. Ryandontcair!)... Fernandes has always seemed like a reasonable guy to me...

All I can find is that there was a questionable shares issue and some sort of agreement between Malaysia and Air Asia that turned out to be more advantageous for Air Asia. Some Malaysian bloggers seemed mildly upset by it. While agreeing that his conduct in the Caterham mess this year is less than unbecoming, until something more substantive comes to light I'm assuming the comments questioning Fernandes' business ethics were motivated by jealousy rather than any genuine knowledge.

[RoverP6B]

forzaminardi said:

All I can find is that there was a questionable shares issue and some sort of agreement between Malaysia and Air Asia that turned out to be more advantageous for Air Asia. Some Malaysian bloggers seemed mildly upset by it. While agreeing that his conduct in the Caterham mess this year is less than unbecoming, until something more substantive comes to light I'm assuming the comments questioning Fernandes' business ethics were motivated by jealousy rather than any genuine knowledge.

Hmm, has TF pulled the same stunt with AA as with Caterham? Interesting... not going to make any judgements yet, though...

[JD PH]

blearyeyedboy said:

Fortunately, the uninitiated don't usually buy Caterhams anyway, though I take your point. Let's hope the whole sorry mess can be sorted with the fewest number of lawyers and least harm to employees as possible.

Having spent a long time speaking to both past, present and prospective Caterham owners, I beg to differ.

You'd be alarmed at the percentage of customers that are not "into" cars and motorsport in the way that you and I are. Saying that, I'm not at all suggesting that Caterham Cars are in anyway in trouble long term, but all of this is a tarnish on the brand that will be distracting them from getting on with what they want to be doing; selling and building lots of cars.

JD