Monday, June 22, 2015

Malaysia Airlines appoints CEO for new ground handling subsidiary

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has appointed Mohd Nadziruddin Mohd Basri as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Malaysia Airlines Bhd's new subsidiary, MAB Ground Handling Services Sdn Bhd, effective Sept 1, 2015.

"Nadziruddin brings with him over 20 years of experience in airline operations, investment and finance.

"In his new position, Nadziruddin will focus on enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of ground handling services provided to our new airline's passengers and aircraft, as well as to third party airlines," MAS CEO Christoph Mueller said in a statement today.

Nadziruddin has been in MAS since late 2013 during which held the position of Chief Financial Officer until his appointment to lead the Restructuring Management Office as Chief Restructuring Officer in late 2014.

He had earlier served in MAS for six years as General Manager, Project Management and Assurance (2001-2004) and Senior General Manager, Airport Operations (2005-2007).

Nadziruddin holds a Bachelor of Science (B. Sc) in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics, and is a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA).

Source: Bernama | 22 June 2015

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Malaysia Airlines appoints company secretary

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has appointed Datuk Sabrina Albakri Abu Bakar as company secretary, effective July 23, 2015.

Sabrina, a licensed company secretary, is presently group head, legal, secretarial and regulatory counsel in Pos Malaysia Bhd.

"I am pleased to welcome Sabrina to Malaysia Airlines. She brings over 22 years of experience in corporate roles within the legal and company secretarial functions.

"She will be fundamental in our ability to effectively manage internal and external stakeholders, as well as manage and coordinate our obligations as a responsible corporation," MAS chief executive officer, Christoph Mueller, said in a statement Friday.

Sabrina started her career as a legal practitioner before becoming an in-house legal advisor and company secretary in three public-listed companies.

Prior to Pos Malaysia, Sabrina was general manager, legal and secretarial at Sapura Technology Bhd.

Source: Bernama | 19 June 2015

Malaysia Airlines appoints Bellew new Chief Operations Officer

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has appointed Peter Bellew as its Chief Operations Officer (COO), effective Sept 1, 2015.

Peter will join MAS from Ryanair where he has served in roles with increasing responsibility since 2006.

"Most recently, he was the Director of Flight Operations for up to 72 bases, operating a total of 320 aircraft," said MAS in a statement here today.

Bellew was also previously Head of Sales and Marketing at Ryanair where he played a pivotal role in introducing new customer service initiatives, pan-European TV advertising, and positive press relations contributing to record sales.

Source: Bernama | 18 June 2015

Friday, June 19, 2015

Malaysia Airlines appoints Bellew new chief operations officer

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has appointed Peter Bellew as its Chief Operations Officer (COO), effective Sept 1, 2015.

Peter will join MAS from Ryanair where he has served in roles with increasing responsibility since 2006.

"Most recently, he was the Director of Flight Operations for up to 72 bases, operating a total of 320 aircraft," said MAS in a statement here today.

Bellew was also previously Head of Sales and Marketing at Ryanair where he played a pivotal role in introducing new customer service initiatives, pan-European TV advertising, and positive press relations contributing to record sales.

Source: Bernama | 18 June 2015

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

AirAsia, AirAsia X menang Anugerah Skytrax

Tony Fernandes, Rafidah, Aireen, dan Benyamin bersama kakitangan AirAsia dan AirAsia X semasa menerima anugerah di Paris.
KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia dipilih sebagai Syarikat Penerbangan Tambang Rendah Terbaik Dunia dan Syarikat Penerbangan Tambang Rendah Terbaik Asia, manakala AirAsia X dipilih sebagai Syarikat Penerbangan Kos Rendah Kabin Premium Terbaik Dunia dan Syarikat Penerbangan Tambang Rendah Tempat Duduk Premium Terbaik pada majlis Anugerah Syarikat Penerbangan Dunia Skytrax.

Acara itu berlangsung di Pameran Udara Paris pada Selasa.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) Kumpulan AirAsia Tan Sri Tony Fernandes serta Pengerusi AirAsia X Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, dan Pemangku CEO AirAsia X Benyamin Ismail hadir pada majlis itu untuk menerima anugerah.

Dalam satu kenyataan di sini hari ini, Fernandes berkata kejayaan memenangi anugerah terbaik buat kali ketujuh berturut-turut merupakan kejayaan hebat dan syarikat penerbangan itu akan terus melakukan inovasi dalam pelbagai aspek bagi memberikan pengalaman perjalanan yang hebat.

Skytrax, penanda aras kecemerlangan syarikat penerbangan dunia, merupakan anugerah paling berprestij dalam industri penerbangan menerusi 19 juta tinjauan membabitkan 160 negara.

Sumber: Bernama | 17 Jun 2015

MAS announces two leadership appointments

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has appointed Faridah Hashim as Head of Corporate Communications and Laurent Recoura as Head of Sales, effective July 1 and June 29, respectively.

"I am pleased to announce the appointment of new leadership team members who will join us very soon and provide important input towards shaping our new airline," said MAS Chief Executive officer, Christoph Mueller in a statement here.

Faridah Hashim brings with her over 20 years of experience in corporate communications and management capacities and will be assisting the company in implementing strategic communication plans with its diverse stakeholders.

She joins Malaysia Airlines from her previous role as Head of Corporate Communications for Axiata Group Bhd.

MAS' new Head of Sales, Laurent Recoura, a French national, brings with him over 30 years of professional experience in the tourism and airline industry.

With a special focus on customer satisfaction and sales strategy in his previous roles, Laurent's priority for Malaysia Airlines will be the development and deployment of effective and customised sales and customer interaction and experience strategies.

Source: Bernama | Aviation | 17 June 2015

Fly Mojo dan Borneo Air dijangka peroleh AOC tidak lama lagi, Rayani Air tiada dalam senarai

Senarai pemegang ASL dan perkhidmatan yang ditawarkan. Sumber: Kementerian Pengangkutan Malaysia
SYARIKAT penerbangan Fly Mojo yang diumumkan penubuhannya pada Mac lepas secara prinsipnya telah memperoleh Lesen Perkhidmatan Udara (ASL) daripada Jabatan Penerbangan Awam Malaysia (DCA) dan begitu juga syarikat penerbangan Borneo Air. 

Kedua-dua syarikat penerbangan baharu ini sedang menjalani audit teknikal untuk mendapatkan Sijil Perakuan Pengendali Udara (AOC) juga daripada DCA sebelum kedua-duanya dapat beroperasi secara rasmi termasuk dapat memulakan penjualan tiket penerbangan. 

Namun begitu, syarikat penerbangan Rayani Air yang sebelum ini bercita-cita tinggi untuk menjadi pemain industri penerbangan tidak ada dalam senarai.

Perkara ini amat menghairankan orang ramai kerana selama ini Rayani Air sibuk mempromosikan bahawa mereka akan menawarkan perkhidmatan penerbangan terus dari Lapangan Terbang Melaka (LTM), Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Langkawi (LIA), dan Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra Kota Bharu (LTSIP) melibatkan banyak destinasi domestik dan antarabangsa sejak pertengahan tahun lepas lagi dengan kempen 'coming soon' (akan datang).  

Terdapat lapan syarikat penerbangan yang memegang sijil ASL setakat ini, iaitu Malaysia Airlines (MAS) & MASkargo, AirAsia, AirAsia X, Malindo Air, Firefly, Raya Airways, MASwings, dan Berjaya Air.

Semakan melalui senarai pemegang lesen Permit Perkhidmatan Udara (ASP) pula juga mendapati Rayani Air juga tidak ada dalam senarai. 

Secara umumnya terdapat terdapat 22 syarikat penerbangan yang memegang lesen ASP di Malaysia. ASP merupakan lesen bagi perkhidmatan penerbangan tidak berjadual. Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila layari laman sesawang Kementerian Pengangkutan Malaysia, iaitu www.mot.gov.my.

90.2% warga MAS terima tawaran


KUALA LUMPUR: Sebanyak 90.2 peratus warga MAS telah menerima tawaran untuk menyertai Ma­laysia Airlines Berhad (MAB), dengan hanya 0.8 peratus menolaknya pada 12 Jun lepas, kata Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif MAB, Christoph Mueller.

Dalam surat pekeli­lingnya kepada semua ka­kitangan semalam, Mueller berkata, pihaknya juga melanjutkan tarikh akhir untuk menyerahkan kembali surat tawaran daripada 10 peratus lagi kakitangan sehingga 19 Jun ini.

“Ini adalah untuk memberi peluang kepada kakitangan yang berada di luar negara atau sedang bercuti sakit untuk memberi jawapan mereka,’’ katanya.

Menurut Mueller, sebahagian daripada fasa peralihan termasuk perpindahan ke Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) juga akan dilaksanakan secara berperingkat bermula Julai ini.

“Kami juga sedang menguruskan perkhidmatan pengangkutan ulang-alik dari pelbagai tempat mengambil bagi memudahkan ak­ses ke Bangunan Pentadbiran, South Sup­port Zone, KLIA.

“Untuk beberapa ming­­gu yang akan datang, kami akan berhubung dengan anda bagi menentukan pi­lihan terbaik. Kami akan terus menyampaikan mak­­lumat terkini dalam masa terdekat. Di samping itu, kakitangan yang menyertai NewCo dan berpangkalan di Lembah Klang (KL Sentral, Malaysia Airlines Aca­demy (MAA), Kelana Jaya dan Su­bang) dan dikehendaki berpindah ke KLIA, akan menerima bantuan penempatan semula sekali-sahaja sebanyak RM3,000 daripada MAB,” katanya.

Dalam pada itu Mueller turut mengingatkan kakitangannya untuk terus mendukung sikap profesionalisme terhadap tugas masing-masing.

“Saya meminta anda untuk terus mendukung sikap profesionalisme terhadap tugas anda di MAS, tanpa mengira keputusan atau rancangan anda yang seterusnya.

“Teruskan menjadi duta jenama MAS yang terbaik kerana tetamu mengharapkan kita. Itulah sebab­nya mereka memilih untuk terbang bersama kita,” katanya.

Sumber: Utusan Malaysia | Bisnes | 16 Jun 2015 | Terbitan 17 Jun 2015

Friday, June 12, 2015

Seletar Airport set to get bigger and better

THE spartan single-storey passenger terminal at Seletar Airport will be torn down when a new two-storey facility with better amenities is ready in the middle of 2017.

It will have a lounge and separate handling area for private jet passengers, as well as food and beverage outlets - facilities not available now, The Straits Times has learnt.

When the new terminal opens, Seletar Airport, which now handles mainly private and pilot training flights, will also serve turboprop operators who will have to move out of Changi Airport.

Malaysian budget carrier Firefly is currently the only airline at Changi that flies turboprops.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is working with Seletar Airport's operator, Changi Airport Group, to finalise details of the new passenger terminal building, a CAAS spokesman said.

She did not say when the new facility will open or where exactly it will be located.

However, several aerospace firms at Seletar Aerospace Park, where the airport is located, said they understand that it will not be at the same site but across the runway near the airport's new control tower.

The Seletar upgrade aims to establish Singapore, already a major hub for commercial carriers like Singapore Airlines, as a centre for private jets as well.

Moving turboprop operations there is also necessary to free up capacity at Changi Airport to cope with a growing number of flights and passengers.

For safety reasons, smaller planes, including turboprops, need a greater separation distance from other aircraft when taking off or landing, aviation experts said.

In some cases, two landing slots are needed for one turboprop aircraft, which means less runway efficiency, they added.

Firefly, a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines which operates 67 weekly flights from Singapore to three cities in Malaysia - Subang, Ipoh, Kuantan - could not be contacted for official comment.

But airline staff based here said there are concerns that the move to Seletar Airport could cause inconvenience to customers.

Said a staff member: We have customers who fly in from Europe, for example, and connect to our flights at Changi Airport. So we are now in discussions with the airport to see how we can facilitate movement between Changi and Seletar without our passengers being inconvenienced.

For aerospace firms located at Seletar, however, the upgrades are welcome and long overdue, especially given growing traffic.

Passenger numbers went up from 22,000 in 2013 to 24,000 last year; and in the first three months of this year, total traffic had already hit 7,000.

The growth is attracting new firms such as ExecuJet, which plans to open an office at Seletar early next year.

Its chief executive officer Gerrit Basson said: We were eager to establish a presence in Singapore because of its access to some of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world, and its location makes it an ideal staging point for short- and long-haul aircraft.

ExecuJet, which offers charters and manages private jets for clients, has already received inquiries from businesses and high- net-worth individuals in the region, he said.

Jet Aviation, which has been in Singapore for almost two decades, is looking forward to the Seletar improvements, said its general manager here, Mr John Riggir.

He said: There have already been some improvements made, like more aircraft parking bays, and the new passenger terminal will certainly raise the standards of the private jet and business aviation market here.

The sooner the upgrades to the rundown terminal, the better.

Source: The Straits Times | 9 June 2015

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Malaysia Airlines in dilemma on whether or not to change name

Tragedy-stricken Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has been in a dilemma as to whether to change its name or not as part of its rehabilitation efforts, the company’s Chief Executive said on Tuesday.

Christoph Mueller told newsmen in an interview that since the tragedies of 2014, the loyalty to their brand had increased in our home market, Malaysia. “So its something we have to maintain because it’s precious,’’

“But this is unfortunate in the case of our foreign markets where our brand, our code and certain flight combinations remind people of a very tragic event.

“We are currently discussing that (change of name) not only amongst us in the company, but we discuss it with our customers both domestically and abroad,’’ Mueller said.

Mueller took over as chief executive of the ailing Malaysian national carrier in May, a few months after the state-owned sovereign fund Khazanah Nasional unveiled a 2-billion-dollar plan to resuscitate the company.

On Thursday, MAS announced that it would not renew the contract of 6,000 out of its 20,000 employees as part of the rehabilitation.

Mueller earlier said that he expected MAS to break even by 2018. MAS suffered two deadly tragedies in 2014, which hit the already-struggling airline hard.

On March 8, Beijing-bound flight MH370 disappeared one hour after take-off from Kuala Lumpur, and was presumed to have crashed into the sea.

On July 17, flight MH17 from Amsterdam was shot down and crashed over eastern Ukraine. (dpa/NAN)

Source: Agency Report | 9 June 2015

New Malaysia Airlines to adopt hybrid model, says CEO

Up for sale: Malaysia Airlines aircraft seen on the tarmac of KL International Airport. The carrier is seeking buyers for some of its fleet, including its Airbus A380
MIAMI: Although Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) will be a full service carrier, there will be a certain amount of flexibility where it does not offer full services for certain routes, according to chief executive officer Christoph Mueller.

“For example there are certain markets which are more travelled by business travellers, whereas there are certain markets which are more frequented by travellers visiting their relatives,” he said during International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 71st AGM yesterday.

Thus, for example, the full service will still be provided for routes that are frequented by business travellers or longer in nature.

Mueller said this flexibility would be incorporated into MAB’s business model.

“So you may call us a hybrid model, in fact. We will serve the markets that we find. Demand is very individualised,” Mueller said during the CEO panel discussion moderated by CNN business correspondent Richard Quest.

Last week, Mueller said the new MAB would be a full-fledged international airline, instead of being regionally focused as earlier stated.

When asked by Quest whether there had been any interest so far from potential buyers for MAS’ Airbus A380 aircraft, Mueller said: “Yes, there have been interest.”

MAS is seeking buyers for some of its fleet, including its Airbus A380 aircraft. This is part of a new management strategy to reduce overall operating and financing costs. The company is looking to breakeven by 2018.

The new MAB will start on a clean slate on Sept 1. In the last few weeks, MAS’ 20,000 workforce received letters of redundancy. Some 14,000 employees are anticipated to be reemployed at the new MAB.

On the issue of safety following the spate of airline tragedies last year, Mueller said the ability to track airplanes in the industry were already there.

“The industry can track planes for less than US$1,000. These things can be ordered over the Internet. The solutions we are talking about are cheaper than a business class seat,” he said.

Source: The Star | Business | 10 June 2015

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Malindo Air tambah kekerapan penerbangan laluan KL - KB mulai 14 Julai

KOTA BHARU: Syarikat penerbangan Malindo Airways (Malindo Air) akan menambah kekerapan penerbangan bagi laluan Kuala Lumpur - Kota Bharu daripada sekali sehari kepada dua kali sehari mulai 14 Julai ini. 

Penerbangan OD2304 dari Terminal KLIA 2, Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) dijadualkan berlepas pada jam 16:00 dan dijadualkan tiba di Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra Kota Bharu  (LTSIP) pada jam 17:00, manakala penerbangan OD2303 dari Kota Bharu ke Kuala Lumpur dijadualkan berlepas pada jam 17:50 dan dijadualkan tiba di KLIA pada jam 18:50.

Perkhidmatan penerbangan pada lewat petang ini dijangka akan mendapat sambutan daripada orang ramai, selain perkhidmatan penerbangan pada awal pagi yang diperkenalkan sejak hujung tahun lepas.  

Untuk maklumat lanjut dan tempahan tiket, sila layari laman sesawang www.malindoair.com

Friday, June 5, 2015

Air Asia, Malindo Air tawar peluang kerja kepada bekas kakitangan MAS - Liow

SEPANG: Dua syarikat penerbangan tempatan iaitu AirAsia dan Malindo Air sedia menawarkan peluang pekerjaan kepada kakitangan Malaysia Airlines (MAS) yang terlibat dengan pemberhentian kerja berikutan penstrukturan semula syarikat itu.

Menteri Pengangkutan Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai berkata perkembangan positif itu adalah kesan daripada keuntungan yang diraih jika negara mempunyai lebih daripada satu syarikat penerbangan.

"Ini satu petunjuk baik dalam bidang penerbangan apabila kita ada banyak syarikat penerbangan yang boleh menampung keperluan kakitangan yang diberhentikan," katanya kepada pemberita selepas melancarkan perkhidmatan Malindo WiFi, Malindo Mobile dan majalah Malindomag di Terminal KLIA 2, Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) di sini Khamis.

Pada Isnin, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif MAS, Christoph Mueller berkata jumlah sebenar kakitangan MAS yang bakal diberhentikan hanya akan ditentukan dalam tempoh dua minggu lagi, kerana ia bergantung kepada keputusan 14,000 kakitangan syarikat penerbangan itu sama ada mahu menerima tawaran kerja baharu daripada MAS atau sebaliknya.

Mueller berkata mengikut perancangan seramai 6,000 kakitangan MAS akan menerima surat pemberhentian pekerja dan 14,000 lagi akan menerima surat tawaran kerja bermula 1 Jun.

Sementara itu Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Malindo Air Chandran Rama Muthy berkata syarikat penerbangan itu menawarkan sejumlah 500 peluang pekerjaan kepada bekas kakitangan MAS dalam pelbagai jawatan.

"Kami sudah dapat permohonan daripada kakitangan MAS untuk macam-macam jawatan termasuk juruterbang, pramugari serta jawatan bukan teknikal seperti pemasaran serta penjualan tiket," katanya.

Chandran berkata pada dasarnya Malindo Air mempunyai 600 kekosongan jawatan sehingga hujung tahun ini, namun syarikat itu memberi keutamaan kepada bekas kakitangan MAS untuk mengisinya.

"Adalah lebih baik untuk mengambil bekas kakitangan MAS kerana mereka sememangnya mempunyai kemahiran dan pengalaman," katanya.

Sumber: Bernama | 4 Jun 2015

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Malindo Air offers 600 jobs for ex-MAS staff

SEPANG: Malindo Air is offering about 600 jobs to Malaysia Airlines (MAS) employees who were retrenched in the national carrier's restructuring exercise.

Malindo Air chief executive officer Chandran Rama Muthy (pic) said the jobs were for pilots, cabin crew and various positions in the flight and ground operations.

He said the airline also had job openings in non-technical fields such as marketing and handling the call centre. "We have a budget until the end of the year for the 600 vacancies.

"We prefer to take in ex-MAS employees because they are already equipped with the necessary skills and can help our airline expand further," he told reporters after the launching of the Malindo Air's in-flight services including WiFi and mobile phone services at the KLIA2 here on Thursday.

Chandran said the airline has already received job applications from former MAS officers.

It was reported that on Monday that MAS terminated the services of its entire 20,000 staff, who will leave in stages over the next few months as part of its restructuring exercise.

The new MAS - MAS Bhd, offered jobs to 14,000 employees on Monday.

Source: The Star Online | 4 June 2015

Malindo Air berminat tambah laluan penerbangan dari Melaka - Idris Haron

MELAKA: Syarikat penerbangan Malindo Air melahirkan minat untuk menambah laluan penerbangan di Lapangan Terbang Melaka (LTM), kata Ketua Menteri Datuk Seri Idris Haron.

Beliau berkata syarikat itu berminat menambah laluan ke dua bandar di kawasan Semenanjung Malaysia dan dua lagi bandar di kawasan Sumatera, Indonesia.

"Perbincangan kerajaan negeri (Melaka) bersama mereka amat positif dalam menambah laluan penerbangan ini, Batam dan Medan adalah antara bandar yang disebut-sebut berpotensi untuk menjadi laluan seterusnya.

"Saya juga melihat Singapura sebagai satu lagi bandar berpotensi kerana kita terima ramai pelancong dari sana, dengan adanya penerbangan ini memudahkan pelancong datang ke Melaka tanpa melalui laluan darat yang terdedah kepada kesesakan trafik selain menjimatkan masa," katanya kepada pemberita selepas mempengerusikan Mesyuarat Mingguan Exco Kerajaan Negeri, di sini, Rabu.

Pada masa ini Malindo Air mengendalikan tiga laluan penerbangan dari LTM di Batu Berendam di sini iaitu ke Kota Bharu, Kelantan; Pulau Pinang; dan Pekan Baru di Sumatera, Indonesia.

Idris berkata walaupun hanya mula beroperasi di LTM pada November tahun lepas, Malindo Air mendapat sambutan yang amat menggalakkan apabila berjaya mengisi antara 70 hingga 100 peratus tempat duduk pesawatnya.

"Apabila tiba musim cuti bilangan yang menggunakan perkhidmatan ini agak tinggi, di sini kita lihat betapa berkesan penerbangan ini untuk kedatangan pelancong ke negeri ini," katanya.

Sementara itu, Idris berkata kerajaan negeri telah mengambil keputusan membenarkan kenaikan maksimum hanya 30 peratus bagi cukai taksiran di kawasan pentadbiran Majlis Perbandaran Hang Tuah Jaya (MPHTJ) di sini.

"Keputusan ini dibuat setelah diambil kira pelbagai faktor termasuk faktor situasi semasa rakyat sendiri, kenaikan ini akan mula berkuat kuasa bulan depan," katanya.

Kenaikan cukai taksiran di kawasan pentadbiran MPHTJ menjadi isu hangat apabila MPHTJ bercadang mengenakan kenaikan terlalu tinggi sehingga 3,000 peratus di beberapa kawasan pentadbiran itu.

Sumber: Bernama | 3 Jun 2015

Monday, June 1, 2015

MAS sends termination letters to 20,000 staff

SEPANG: Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) will be sending termination letters to its 20,000 employees beginning Monday, followed by offer letters to 14,000 employees to join new entity Malaysian Airlines Bhd (MAB).

MAB is a new entity established by MAS' major shareholder Khazanah Nasional Bhd to assume the contracts, assets and liabilities of the national carrier in a bid to turn around the airline to profitability.

Chief executive officer-designate Christoph Mueller in a briefing Monday said the 14,000 employees who received the offer letters would be given 12 days to decide while employees who decide to join MAB would start working in the new entity beginning on Sept 1.

Describing MAS' restructuring process as a 'hard reset', he said MAB's business model would be principally commercial with the hope that the airline would grow again by 2017.

Capacity rightsizing, including employee termination, was part of MAS' 12-point recovery plan announced by Khazanah in an effort to rein in costs.

Source: Bernama | 1 June 2015

MAB to retain current domestic & international routes of MAS, says Mueller

SEPANG: Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) will retain the current domestic and international routes of Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS), but focus on a competitive cost structure in pursuit of becoming the regional leader by 2018. The company will also retain the existing aircraft fleet.

MAB is the entity established to take over the assets and operation of MAS as part of the national carrier's 12-point recovery plan announced by major shareholder Khazanah Nasional Bhd.

Chief executive officer-designate Christoph Mueller said more than 40 projects had been identified to position the company for future growth, including overhauling the information technology (IT) system and refurbishing inflight offerings.

"These projects will impact all aspects of the airline and create an ongoing, sustainable operation," he told a media briefing here today.

He said the company had identified those factors which had been a drag on the revenue of MAS, among which were overcapacity in the market and declining revenue per passenger.

He added that MAB would also review its entire product range to make offerings more appealing.

Mueller said MAS also lacks a state-of-the-art IT system which could lower operational costs by 20 per cent, while driving ancillary revenue from retail and merchandising.

The airline, he added, also had a high number of suppliers at 20,000 and MAB would trim this to between 2,000 and 2,500.

He said other planned improvements for the MAB includes, the introduction of a premium class with full flat beds, refurbishment of cabin interior and upgrading of inflight entertainment.

According to Mueller, MAB also plans to increase the domestic flight frequencies of subsidiaries, Firefly and MASwings.

He said the rebranding plan for the airline is expected to be concluded in the next eight weeks.

As part of the rebranding the MAB headquarters would be located at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), while the Subang office operations would be shut down entirely with Firefly moving to a location close to the Subang airport.

He said the airline would also consider in the future, trimming its holdings in subsidiaries such as the maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) business, by partnering with other industry players.

By 2018, he said MAB would emerge as a leader in Southeast Asia with a competitive cost base, best network, competence in revenue management and operations driven by industry leading technology.

Meanwhile, en route for operations on Sept 1, Mueller said administrative work on the transfer of assets, contracts and liabilities from MAS to MAB commenced from last week and is scheduled for completion in three months.

"Within the next few months, we will transfer all the credentials which are necessary to operate the new airline," he added.

He said MAB is also applying for an airline operating certificate (AOC) from Department of Civil Aviation and authorisation to use International Air Transport Association's MH code.

When operations commence, he said the airline would employ at least 14,000 staff from MAS.

Source: Bernama | 1 June 2015