Tiger Airways says it is “disappointed and surprised” that Tony Fernandes, chief executive of AirAsia Group, “has passed racial remarks against Tiger” in a Bangkok Post article published on Oct 15.

In the article, Fernandes said he was sceptical about having westerners running any successful Asia-based business, referring to some of Tiger Air’s management. “We're Asians, not a bunch of white guys running the airline," he was quoted as saying.

“While we understand that we are intensifying the level of competition with our expansion across Asia, resorting to racial slurs is unbecoming and unnecessary,” says Tiger Air in the statement.