Tony Fernandes' Ayrshire estate in Scotland up for sale

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 19): Air Asia boss Tan Sri Tony Fernandes has put his “stunning” 125-acre Ayrshire estate in Scotland up for sale, UK tabloid The Sun reported yesterday.

Previous reports have said that Fernandes bought the property back in 2013 for £2.5 million (RM13.55 million).

Describing Fernandes as the ex-owner of the famous British soccer club Queens Park Rangers, The Sun said he “has felt the pinch of the coronavirus pandemic”, and that “as he fights to save various business ventures, his stunning Scottish pad has had to go”.

The bungalow at the estate is called Skeldon House and the tabloid reported that Fernandes has lived in the property for seven years.

According to a listing on Savills’ website, Skeldon House (about 9,000 sq ft) is a “substantial 18th century classical Georgian country house”.

It also has two bedrooms suites and three bedrooms; bright and spacious accommodation with classic Georgian proportions; contemporary country dining kitchen and central breakfasting island; 18th century eight bedroom Coach House; and additional two bedroom cottage, said the website.

The Coach House (5,300 sq feet) is “a U-shaped 18th century courtyard and incorporates the estate office, garages, former stables, byre, storage and 2 semi detached stone built cottages” said Savills.

Meanwhile “Castle Cottage is stone built under a slate roof and comprises sitting room, kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms and is around 976 sq feet”.

So, there are actually three residences on the estate.

The property also has wine cellars, tennis courts, gymnasium and sauna.

The three homes are “set in extensive natural woodland and on the banks of River Doon”.

Last month, it was reported that AirAsia Group Bhd planned to remove dozens of planes from its fleet by returning aircraft to lessors.

"We are not going to buy new planes and we are going to return as many as we can. I estimate by the end of next year we'll be flying 180 planes," Fernandes said.

AirAsia, just like many other airlines, has been hit very badly by travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

And in the latest development, AirAsia Group's 33%-owned associate AirAsia Japan Co Ltd (AAJ) filed for bankruptcy proceedings earlier this week.

AirAsia now plans to diversify in an attempt to transform from a digital airline into “a comprehensive lifestyle platform for everyone”.

The app platform will offer different types of products and services under three main categories: travel, e-commerce and financial tech.

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