NEW DELHI: AirAsia group CEO Tony Fernandes , who is about to launch an airline in India partnering the Tata group , is known to be as outspoken as he is focused on low costs. On Wednesday, at a press gathering to discuss his airline venture's plans, Fernandes did not disappoint.When a female reporter quizzed him about his vow to never work with an airline again after a failed joint venture with Japanese carrier ANA Holdings, he said, "I am sure you met many men. You thought he was a good guy but realised he was a complete disaster. So the relationship didn't last. ANA was like that. It looked like one sexy woman - really nice - said all the nice things. And when we got to bed, it was a horrible experience. So we had a quick divorce."What about the Tatas? "Mr (Ratan) Tata is a fantastic guy," he said."It is a fantastic experience working with him, although I have not gone to bed with him."Fernandes also revealed he "has plans for Tata". "We will make him an A320 (the planes that the Malaysian low-cost carrier flies) pilot so we won't have to pay him. "It would be another way of cutting costs." On July 2, Fernandes had tweeted a photograph of Tata flying his private jet.Fernandes was candid about his thoughts on authorities and competitors alike, which makes him refreshingly different from the crowd of foreign and Indian CEOs who are careful with words for fear of annoying authorities.On trying to convince chief ministers about reducing state taxes on jet fuel, whose costs comprise nearly 60% of an airline's operating costs in India, he offered an example."When I sponsored (English football club) Manchester United , we only had seven planes. My shareholders couldn't see the returns straightaway. It was painful for me because I hate the club... But you have to be a prostitute once in a while."In the same way, according to him, if one goes to the CMs and talk about jet fuel, they won't see the benefits straightway.Aviation is a tough business, according to Fernandes. "Too many people in aviation thought it is short work, but it is hard work," he said, adding that there will be many days when "you want to kill yourself".He was referring to his experience with Sars (epidemic), a tsunami , evolutions, credit crisis and so on.He then turned to Mittu Chandilya, the Indian venture's young CEO. "If this guy still looks like this two years down the line, we would have failed.""His hair is still very nice and black. I bet every morning he looks at the mirror and says I am still good looking. That will change in time. He won't have this look. So take a picture and chart our progress by the way he looks. The worse he looks, the better we are becoming."There was more to come. Some reporters doubted if he will be able to lobby to reduce tax on fuel, reminding him of Gulf carrier Emirates' inability to increase its allotted number of seats from around 54,000 a week.Pat came the reply: "Maybe my English is different from the guys from Dubai." He said Emirates may not have seen all the CMs.Fernandes refused to reveal the complete strategy of AirAsia."Everything you write will be read by the guys who don't like me. I am like Colonel Sanders (founder of American restaurant chain KFC) right now. I can't give you all my secrets."Though the Tatas were his partner, Fernandes said he wouldn't have stayed in their hotel (Taj Palace). "The Taj guys said we offer the cheapest rates and we insist on free internet in rooms. That's why I stayed because we are very aggressive on cutting costs."Fernandes also displayed a sharp understanding for the aviation business. He said AirAsia will not fly to the Mumbai and Delhi airports because of the high charges, but has asked the government to build another airport in Mumbai. "That may sound weird, but remember London has four airports and New York has three.Air travel in India maybe concentrated at Mumbai and Delhi because he said all airlines are like sheep - they go to the same place. But there is plenty of market to be developed in India, according to him. "After we start flying, routes will be redistributed. That is exactly what we did in Malaysia - we created many new traffic flows."Soon after, he was back to being a quote hunter's delight. One reason to fly AirAsia? "Mittu looks good."