Virgin boss Branson to dress as AirAsia stewardess after losing bet

KUALA LUMPUR - Virgin Group boss Sir Richard Branson will be dressing up as an AirAsia stewardess after he lost a bet he made during the Formula 1 season.

Branson, 60, lost the bet to Lotus Racing team principal Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes over which of their teams would do better in the just-concluded Formula 1 season.

The two men had made a bet at the start of the season in March that the loser must serve as a “stewardess” on the winner’s airline.

Despite both teams failing to score any championship points throughout the season, Malaysian-backed Lotus Racing finished ahead of Virgin Racing in all but two races (in Italy and Singapore).

After the season’s final race at the sensational Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, Lotus finished in 10th spot while Virgin finished last among the 12 teams.

“It’s time for Richard to start preparing himself for some hard work … and the likely pain of a pair of high heels!” the Star Online quoted Fernandes as saying.

The date of the Kuala Lumpur-London AirAsia flight has yet to be set, but seats will be auctioned off and the money given to Branson’s chosen charity.

“We have agreed that we will run an online charity auction for the seats on the route to raise money for a charity of Richard’s choice and give fans of both teams the chance to be on the flight,” Fernandes said.

“The aim is to raise as much money as we can for a good cause … So the discomfort Richard will have to go through will be worth as much as it possibly can be,” he added. (ANI)