PETALING JAYA • AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes has put up his sprawling Ayrshire estate in Scotland for sale at £2.5 million (S$4.5 million), as the Covid-19 pandemic has taken a toll on airlines worldwide, according to British tabloid The Sun.

The estate comes complete with an 18th-century classical Georgian country house, known as the Skeldon House, nestled in an extensive natural woodland stretching to the banks of the River Doon.

The property, which boasts five bedrooms including two suites, an all-weather tennis court, a wine cellar and sauna facilities, among others, was put up for sale on Oct 1.

Mr Fernandes, who was also a former Queens Park Rangers football club owner, had reportedly been living at the Skeldon House for seven years.

Malaysia's budget carrier AirAsia had ventured into the food delivery business in March, as flights were mostly grounded, with international borders closing to contain Covid-19 transmission.

Like many who were hard-hit by the pandemic, Mr Fernandes is refocusing his attention on other profitable ventures deemed sustainable during the pandemic.

The 56-year-old was celebrated as one of Asia's top marketing-savvy entrepreneurs, as he had built his company and himself into a global brand by pulling creative marketing stunts.

He started his career in the entertainment industry in the early 1990s, rising to build one of the largest budget carriers in the region.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK