I found the letter AirAsia's operations legal? detailing the writer's experiences with Air Asia shocking and disgusting. I also realise that there is growing concern with AirAsia's punctuality.

I'm beginning to worry if the company is still maintaining its core ideals. The above letter is not the first of the many complaints about AirAsia that I have heard over the last year or so. Somehow, I get the feeling that some individuals in the organisation are pushing the idea that because they are cheap, inefficiency can be excused.

This is unacceptable.

AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandez says in his company's website that AirAsia's corporate culture is as follows:

'Maintain respectful relationships with fellow staff and guests. Treat people in the same manner we would like to be treated. Strive to be a role model at work and in the community. Take responsibility for personal and company growth. Be an appreciative person to guests and fellow staff.'

For me, this would mean that delays are unacceptable. Shoddy treatment of customers is unacceptable. The core ideals of good, fun, vibrant and quality services brought AirAsia to where it is currently.

A shunning of these core ideals would destroy the friendly approachable brand image that AirAsia needs to hold on to in the face of rising competition from other low-cost providers like Tiger Airways and Nok Air.

AirAsia has been a God-send for young travellers like my goodself, but I would not hesitate to recommend Tiger Airways to anybody if the former's service standards continue to plummet. Cheap is good. But cheap fares doesn't and shouldn't mean being cheap and treating customers cheaply.

So yes, it is true when they say, 'Now everybody can fly, except the punctual'. Aye, Tony?