The recent ruckus about AirAsia and its purportedly misleading advertisements is wholly unjustified and made by people who are either ignorant or who are out to accumulate political capital.

Speaking as a frequent traveller, and as one who has lived abroad for many years, I can say that no-frills carriers are a welcome sight for improved competition and for ticket prices to be set by the free market mechanism.

The per-km cost of the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur route, for example, is one of the highest in the world since it is controlled by the duopoly of Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Malaysia Airlines (MAS). If a carrier like AirAsia can offer prices at 40 percent of what MAS/SIA are offering, then it is good for the consumer.

AirAsia, for example, charges about RM100 for a one-way ticket to Bangkok, compared with a return ticket on MAS/Thai Airways at RM700. Even RM200 for a one-way ticket to Bangkok is good value compared with current alternatives.

As for the so-called "misleading" advertisements, I would simply suggest that we all grow up and understand that not all tickets can be sold at cut-throat prices.

As long as we have a choice to fly at the market-dictated prices, we should be happy.