British business magnate Richard Branson has lost his latest job because he spilled orange juice.
The Virgin Group founder had his legs shaved, put on lipstick and squeezed into a red skirt to honour a bet by serving as a flight attendant yesterday on an AirAsia trip from Australia to Malaysia.
But Branson earned a reprimand from AirAsia chief Tony Fernandes after he deliberately dumped a tray of orange juice on Fernandes’ lap.
Branson lost a bet to Fernandes in 2010 after they wagered that their Formula One racing teams would finish ahead of each other. Fernandes’ team ended two spots above Branson’s.
Fernandes declared gleefully after yesterday’s nearly six-hour flight on his budget airline that Branson’s skills as an attendant were “rubbish” and that he was being immediately fired.
A cheerful Branson, who was tasked with pouring beverages, serving meals and making flight announcements, posed with Fernandes and popped champagne after stepping out of the plane in Kuala Lumpur. He said in brief remarks that he was “glad to have gotten the bet over with and [was] looking forward to getting back into my clothes”.
Asked how Branson rated as an attendant, Fernandes said: “Out of 10, maybe one, for a bit of humour. I wanted to kill him actually” for spilling the juice. – Sapa-AP