Branson dresses up as air hostess

British business tycoon Sir Richard Branson donned high heels, fishnet stockings and a body-hugging scarlet outfit on a AirAsia flight from Perth to Kuala Lumpur. Wearing a heavy make-up, the 62-year-old newsmaker served passengers as part of a Grand Prix bet with AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandez, set two years ago.

The billionaire entrepreneur and owner of Virgin Atlantic Airlines also shaved his legs as promised, but insisted on keeping his beard, which was in startling contrast to the lipstick he had slicked on, The Australian reported.

Branson and Fernandes had a bet on whose Formula One racing team would fare better in their debut season at the 2010 Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi. According to the terms of the bet, the loser would serve as a female flight attendant on board the winner’s airline. Fernandes’s Team Lotus finished two spots above Branson’s Marussia Virgin Racing team.

“Yeah, it’s true. We both had Grand Prix teams and I was absolutely certain that I was going to win,” Branson said. “Something went wrong. Of course the drivers of that race are no longer with us. I went to extreme lengths to avoid being here, but knew that one day I had to get it over with.”

However, Branson made sure that he got his revenge as he purposely tipped orange juice on the AirAsia boss.

Fernandes declared after the nearly six-hour flight that Branson’s skills as an attendant were “rubbish” and he was being “immediately fired.” Fernandes, who described the Briton as his mentor, used to work for Branson before setting up his own budget airline.
No sooner had Branson made good with his pledge than Fernandez announced that he would become one of Virgin Galactic’s first commercial space tourists. “It’s something I never, ever dreamed of doing,” the AirAsia chief said. “What he doesn’t realise is once I go to space, there’ll be a low-cost version - AirAsia Galactica, about 10 per cent of the price he’s charging.”

The special flight’s fare was Australian $399, with $100 from each seat to be donated by AirAsia X to Starlight Children’s Foundation in Australia.