Navigating a new growth course

Ma said he and his Australian partners have been mulling the expansion since the start of the negotiations. The extension to the mainland may come sometime within three years, around the point at which Ma expects Jetstar Hong Kong to become profitable.

The business may also help lower the debt-to-asset ratio to around 70 percent by the end of 2015 from the current 79 percent.

Like most successful businessmen, Ma has few hobbies apart from his fully packed schedule. One thing he really enjoys is to play chess, and he often encourages his top executives to join him for a game. "The great thing about playing chess is strategic thinking. You need to stay far-sighted, hedge potential risks and act in advance. It is exactly the same as doing business. "