Melaka Air luaskan penerbangan (termasuk laluan Melaka - Kota Bharu)

BATU BERENDAM - Melaka Air Sdn Bhd (Melaka Air) merancang untuk memajak pesawat dari syarikat Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad (PMB) dalam usaha mengembangkan perkhidmatan penerbangan ke beberapa destinasi baharu.

Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam berkata, usaha syarikat penerbangan milik Kerajaan Negeri itu kini masih pada peringkat perbincangan dengan PMB.

“Diharap dalam tempoh setahun ini, Melaka Air dapat memajak pesawat dan mengadakan penerbangan tetap dari Lapangan Terbang Melaka (LTM) ke beberapa destinasi domestik serta negara Asean.

“Perbincangan sedang dilakukan dengan PMB untuk memajak dua pesawat daripada syarikat berkenaan yang dijangka dapat diselesaikan menjelang Februari tahun depan,” katanya pada sidang media selepas perasmian Karnival Udara Antarabangsa Melaka (KUAM), di sini.

Karnival tiga hari berakhir semalam, mempamerkan hampir 100 pesawat pelbagai jenis dan disertai 352 peserta dari dalam serta luar negara. Mohd Ali berkata, Melaka Air juga bercadang membuka perkhidmatan laluan baru dari LTM ke Kota Bharu, Kelantan; Kuching, Sarawak dan Kota Kinabalu, Sabah sebelum dikembangkan ke Macau dan Hong Kong.

"Sejak laluan dari LTM ke Pulau Pinang menggunakan pesawat Firefly Sdn Bhd (Firefly) diperkenal April lalu, jumlah penumpang ke destinasi berkenaan meningkat dalam tempoh dua bulan pertama operasi. “Penerbangan ke Pulau Pinang kini meningkat dengan 60 penumpang sehari kerana ia destinasi terbaik bagi mereka yang mahu ke negeri di utara,” katanya.

Menurutnya, dijangka seramai 32,000 pelancong datang ke Melaka menggunakan perkhidmatan udara tahun ini berbanding 22,000 tahun lalu kerana sehingga Jun, seramai 17,000 pelancong direkodkan memasuki negeri ini melalui  laluan udara.

SOURCE: Sinar Harian (Malacca & Negeri Sembilan Edition) | 16 July 2012 | 

Firefly to launch new route from Kota Bharu to Singapore

SINGAPORE : Firefly - Malaysia Airlines' profitable short-haul budget airline - is spreading its wings.

This weekend, it will launch a new route from Kota Bharu to Singapore, and relaunch its Penang to Koh Samui, Thailand route.

Firefly said it aims to grow revenue from Singapore-based services by up to a fifth this year.

It is planning tie-ups with partners like Club Med in Kuantan to attract foreign tourists.

And it wants more Singaporeans to visit destinations where it flies to, such as Subang, Ipoh, Kuala Terengganu and Kuantan.

But from September 25, customers may have to pay more for passenger-service charges when Firefly moves from Singapore's Budget Terminal to Terminal 2.

It warns customers may also have to pay for higher fuel surcharges in the long run if fuel prices remain high because of the ongoing crisis in Syria.

Firefly plans to try to acquire two more aircraft within the next two years, to add to its current fleet of 12.

Ignatius Ong, CEO of Firefly, Malaysia, said: "I am looking at the Singapore market...We are doing four flights a week now. Seeing how things go, if demand is there, and we can stimulate it further, we will probably move it to daily."

Operating from the city air terminal in Subang and its northern hub in Penang, Firefly flies to nearly 20 destinations within Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore.

But while Firefly is profitable, it could be weighed down by its cash-strapped parent Malaysia Airlines.

The carrier recently announced it will delay its target to return to profitability by another year, to 2014. It reported its fifth consecutive loss of US$54.3 million for the March quarter.

In contrast, rival Air Asia posted a 4 per cent increase in first-quarter net profit to US$53.8 million and record revenue of over US$370 million. Air Asia also opened its regional headquarters in Jakarta in August.

Malaysia Airlines, on the other hand, has scrapped its plans for a new regional premium airline, which was to fly to major ASEAN cities and to venture into India and China.

- CNA/ms

SOURCE: Channel NewsAsia | 11 August 2012 | 

Firefly celebrates inaugural flight with Kota Bharu community

AS Firefly prepares to operate its first flight from Kelantan to Singapore, its staff took time off to spread festive cheer to the people of Kota Bharu at a buka puasa organised by Grand Riverview Hotel under the Seikhlas Ikatan Satu Impian programme, in conjunction with the Hari Raya celebration.

The guest list comprised people aged six to 83-years-old and was provided by Majlis Kanser Nasional (Makna) and Majlis Daerah Kuala Krai Kelantan.

“No matter how busy we are, we must never forget to make time to engage the communities that we do business with,” said head of Sales and Customer Experience Azman Ahmad.

“And the opportunity to participate in this buka puasa came at just the right time when we are making our presence felt in Kota Bharu with the new Kota Bharu-Singapore route and additional flights for the Kota Bharu-Johor Bahru and Kota Bharu-Penang routes,” Azman said.

Celebration with the kids: (Standing at the back, from left) Imran, Azman, Vincent Chua (General Manager, Grand Riverview Hotel general manager Vincent Chua and Fahrin witih the children.

At the dinner, Firefly gave each guest a gift pack comprising items usually needed to prepare for Hari Raya. The gift packs were purchased with funds collected from Firefly employees and management.

“The staff gave generously for this worthy cause, so much so our CEO Ignatius Ong pledged to match the funds collected ringgit for ringgit. In the end, we managed to raise RM6,000 in just two weeks,” Azman said.

As an added treat, Firefly invited singer-songwriter Imran Ajmain and actor Fahrin Ahmad to perform at the event. The two also mingled with the crowd.

In conjunction with the launch of the new Kota Bharu-Singapore route, Firefly now offers an all-in one-way promo seat that starts from RM99 per passenger.

For a start, Firefly will operate four times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday between Kota Baru and Singapore.

Additionally, it will provide more flights to Kota Bharu-Johor Baru and Kota Bharu-Penang to cater to the growing demand from Aug 10.

Purchases can be made at Firefly’s website at www.fireflyz.com.my, mobile application, airport and city ticketing offices, call-centre and through travel agents.

Passengers are encouraged to take the opportunity to enjoy these promotional airfares and explore Firefly’s exciting new route.

SOURCE: The Star Online | 31 July 2012 | 

Firefly to ply Penang - Koh Samui and Kota Bharu - Singapore routes

PETALING JAYA: Firefly will introduce two new routes, Kota Baru–Singapore and Penang–Koh Samui, from Aug 10 and 11 respectively. The airline will also restart its Subang–Hat Yai route on Aug 17.

The Kota Baru–Singapore and Subang–Hat Yai routes will have flights every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Flights between Penang-Koh Samui will be on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Ticket can be purchased from www.fireflyz.com.my, Firefly’s airport and city ticketing offices, Firefly’s call-centre and travel agents.

In conjunction with the new routes, Firefly is offering special promotional airfares from RM99 for the Kota Baru–Singapore and Subang–Hat Yai routes, and RM199 for the Penang–Koh Samui route. Prices are an all-in, one-way fare.

These rates are for bookings made from July 2 to 15 for travel starting from respective commencement dates to March 30, 2013.

Firefly chief executive officer Ignatius M.C. Ong said they were mounting these new flights as they saw demand in the various respective markets.

“As such, we intend to meet the needs of our loyal customers for direct flights with convenient timings both ways,” he said.

Effective Aug 10, Firefly is also increasing the frequency of several of its flights, including Singapore–Kuantan to seven flights weekly, Subang–Pekanbaru to four flights weekly, Subang–Johor Baru to 25 flights weekly and Subang–Kota Baru to 58 flights weekly.

The other flights are Subang–Langkawi, which has been increased to 19 flights weekly, Subang–Penang to 66 flights weekly, Penang– Kota Baru to seven flights weekly and Kota Baru–Johor Baru to seven flights weekly.

SOURCE: The Star Online | 3 July 2012 | 

Firefly buka laluan baharu (Kota Bharu - Singapura)

SYARIKAT penerbangan Firefly akan mengembangkan rangkaiannya dari Kota Bharu ke Singapura bermula 10 Ogos ini dengan penerbangan setiap Isnin, Rabu, Jumaat dan Ahad. 

Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha berkata, pelancaran laluan itu akan meningkatkan jumlah pelancong yang juga dilihat sebagai pintu masuk ke Pulau Perhentian yang terkenal dengan aktiviti menyelam dan snorkeling selain seni budayanya. 

Beliau berkata, Kota Bharu juga dilihat sebagai pintu masuk untuk ke Pulau Perhentian yang terkenal dengan aktiviti menyelam dan snorkeling selain terkenal dengan seni budayanya, masakan serta seni dan kraf tangan. - Bernama

SOURCE: Harian Metro | 9 August 2012 | 

Firefly Direct Flight From Kota Bharu To Singapore From Aug 10

Penerbangan Terus Firefly Dari Kota Bharu Ke Singapura Mulai 10 Ogos

Firefly sasar pelancong asing untuk dua laluan baharu (Kota Bharu - Singapura dan Pulau Pinang - Koh Samui)

Firefly targets tourists with new routes

Firefly is targeting foreign tourists for its two new routes, Kota Bharu-Singapore and Penang-Koh Samui beginning this August 10 and 11, its Head of Marketing & Communications Angelina Fernandez said.

In a statement here today, she said they are expecting tourists from the Middle-East, Japan, South Korea and India, who largely choose Penang as their preferred holiday destination during intense seasons in their respective homelands.

Fernandez said islands are seen to be the demand for these markets, hence creating an access to Koh Samui via Penang will be most ideal for these travellers who are keen to explore spectacular beaches in the region.

Apart from that, the airline will also restart its Subang-Hat Yai route on August 17.

The Kota Bharu-Singapore and Subang-Hat Yai routes will have flights every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and flights to Penang-Koh Samui will be on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Firefly is offering special airfares price from RM99 (one way) for the Kota Bharu-Singapore and Subang-Hat Yai routes and RM199 (one way) for Penang-Koh Samui route.

These promotional rates are for bookings made from July 2 until July 15 for travel starting from their respective commencement dates to March 30 next year. -- Bernama

SOURCE: Business Times | 2 July 2012 |

Firefly to launch two new routes (including Kota Bharu - Singapore route)

PETALING JAYA: Firefly will introduce two new routes, Kota Baru - Singapore and Penang - Koh Samui, from Aug 10 and 11, respectively. The airline will also restart its Subang Hat Yai route, which was previously suspended due to the situation at the city then, on Aug 17. The Kota Baru Singapore and Subang Hat Yai routes will have flights every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Meanwhile, flights between Penang - Koh Samui will be on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Ticket can be purchased from Firefly's website, www.fireflyz.com.my, Firefly's airport and city ticketing offices, Firefly's call-centre, and through travel agents.In conjunction with these new routes, Firefly is offering special promotional airfares from RM99 for the Kota Baru Singapore and Subang Hat Yai routes, and RM199 for Penang Koh Samui route. All of which is an all-in, one-way fare. These promotional rates are for bookings made from, July 2 to 15 for travel starting from respective commencement dates to March 30, 2013.

Firefly CEO Ignatius M.C. Ong said they are mounting these new flights as they see demands in the various respective markets. “As such, we intend to meet the needs of our loyal business and leisure customers for direct flights with convenient timings both ways,” he said. Effective Aug 10, Firefly is also increasing the frequency of several of its flights including Singapore Kuantan to seven flights weekly, Subang Pekanbaru to four flights weekly, Subang - Johor Baru to 25 flights weekly and Subang Kota Baru to resulting in 58 flights weekly.

The other flights are Subang Langkawi which has been increased to 19 flights weekly, Subang - Penang to 66 flights weekly, Penang - Kota Baru to seven flights weekly and Kota Baru - Johor Baru to seven flights weekly.

SOURCE: The Star Online | 2 July 2012 | 

Firefly introduces Kota Bharu - Johor Bahru route

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians can now for the first time enjoy direct flights between the south and east coast of the peninsula. Firefly became the first airline to provide direct air linkages with its new Kota Baru-Johor Baru route.

“Our direct, thrice weekly services with a travel time of approximately one hour and 40 minutes provides tremendous convenience to travellers. “We are providing an alternative to existing public land transportation servicing this route such as coach and rail services,” said Malaysian Airlines chief operating officer (short haul) Ignatius M.C. Ong in a statement yesterday.

He added that the direct flights were the best solution for leisure and business travellers who needed to arrive at their destinations quickly and safely. Ong said the web check-in facility allowed passengers to check in at their convenience from their home or office.

The earliest flight departs from Kota Bharu at 8.30am and arrives in Johor Baru at 10.10am while flights out of Johor Baru arrive in Kota Bharu at 12.10pm. The airline is currently running a promotion on bookings on selected domestic routes between May 7 and June 30 with air fares starting at RM75 one-way.

The promotion is also for the Penang-Langkawi, Penang-Kota Bharu, Penang-Kuantan, Subang-Penang, Subang-Kota Bharu, Subang-Langkawi, Subang- Kuala Terengganu, Subang-Johor Bahru and Subang-Alor Setar routes.

SOURCE: The Star | 27 April 2012 | 

Matta Cadang Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra Dinaik Taraf

KOTA BHARU, 26 April (Bernama) -- Persatuan Agensi-agensi Pelancongan dan Pengembaraan Malaysia (Matta) akan mencadangkan kepada Kementerian Pengangkutan supaya Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra, Pengkalan Chepa di sini, dinaik taraf kepada lapangan terbang antarabangsa bagi penerbangan tambang murah.

Pengerusi Matta Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun berkata cadangan itu akan dikemukakan secepat mungkin berikutan pergerakan trafik udara di lapangan terbang tersebut adalah yang kedua tertinggi di Malaysia selepas Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA).

"Lapangan terbang ini juga berada di kawasan yang strategik kerana berdekatan dengan Thailand, Myanmar dan beberapa negara Asean lain serta mampu menjadi hab penerbangan yang baru di Pantai Timur," katanya kepada pemberita selepas majlis perasmian Matta Fair 2012 di sini, pada Khamis.

Mohd Khalid berkata pengusaha pelancongan di Kelantan dan negeri lain mahukan lapangan terbang ini dinaik taraf sebagai lapangan terbang antarabangsa, yang melonjakkan industri pelancongan di negeri ini dan Malaysia.

SOURCE: BERNAMA | 26 April 2012 | 

Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra dicadang dinaik taraf

KOTA BHARU 26 April - Persatuan Agensi-agensi Pelancongan dan Pengembaraan Malaysia (Matta) akan mencadangkan kepada Kementerian Pengangkutan supaya Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra, Pengkalan Chepa di sini, dinaik taraf kepada lapangan terbang antarabangsa bagi penerbangan tambang murah. 

Pengerusi Matta, Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun berkata cadangan itu akan dikemukakan secepat mungkin berikutan pergerakan trafik udara di lapangan terbang tersebut adalah yang kedua tertinggi di Malaysia selepas Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA).

"Lapangan terbang ini juga berada di kawasan yang strategik kerana berdekatan dengan Thailand, Myanmar dan beberapa negara Asean lain serta mampu menjadi hab penerbangan yang baru di Pantai Timur," katanya kepada pemberita selepas majlis perasmian Matta Fair 2012 di sini, hari ini.

Mohd Khalid berkata pengusaha pelancongan di Kelantan dan negeri lain mahukan lapangan terbang ini dinaik taraf sebagai lapangan terbang antarabangsa, yang melonjakkan industri pelancongan di negeri ini dan Malaysia. "Ini penting untuk industri pelancongan, terutama kepada pengusaha pelancongan dan mereka juga boleh membantu dalam mempromosikan aktiviti ini ke peringkat antarabangsa.

"Jika perkara ini berlaku akan memberi satu kejutan kepada industri pelancongan di Kelantan dan akan membuka lebih banyak ruang kepada pelancong luar untuk mengenali negeri ini," katanya. Lapangan terbang ini kini mengendalikan 46 penerbangan pada setiap hari, menjadikannya lapangan terbang paling sibuk di Pantai Timur, dengan laluan penerbangan Kota Baharu-Kuala Lumpur, Kota Baharu-Pulau Pinang dan Kota Baharu-Johor Baharu. - BERNAMA

SOURCE: Utusan Malaysia/BERNAMA | 26 April 2012 | 

Firefly Buka Laluan Kota Bharu - Johor Bahru

KUALA LUMPUR: Firefly, anak syarikat milik penuh Malaysia Airlines, mencatatkan sejarah hari ini dengan menjadi syarikat penerbangan pertama yang menyedia hubungan udara secara terus menghubungkan selatan dan pantai timur Semenanjung Malaysia.

Para penumpang yang menaiki penerbangan pertama syarikat penerbangan komuniti itu pagi ini dari Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra di Kota Bharu telah diberikan sambutan setibanya mereka di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Senai, Johor Bahru.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Firefly, Ignatius M.C. Ong berkata penerbangan terus, tiga kali seminggu, dengan perjalanan mengambil masa satu jam dan 40 minit, menyediakan keselesaan kepada para pengembara. "Kami menawarkan penyelesaian terbaik untuk pengembara riadah dan perniagaan yang perlu tiba ke destinasi masing-masing dengan cepat dan selamat," kata beliau dalam satu kenyataan, Khamis.

Selain daripada itu, beliau berkata kemudahan daftar masuk web Firefly juga merupakan daya penarik kepada para pengembara kerana ini membolehkan mereka mendaftar masuk dengan selesa dari rumah ataupun pejabat dan mencetak sendiri pas pelepasan mereka.

"Banyak masa boleh dijimatkan dengan tidak perlu beratur daftar masuk dan ini membolehkan penumpang menghabiskan lebih banyak masa di destinasi mereka," tambah Ong. Bagi mempromosikan laluan ini dan laluan lain di rangkaian Firefly, syarikat penerbangan itu pada masa ini mengadakan promosi dalam talian untuk tempahan sehingga 6 Mei, 2012 untuk perjalanan dari 7 Mei hingga 30 Jun, 2012. Syarikat penerbangan itu turut menyertai Pameran Matta di Kota Bharu Mall mulai esok hingga 29 April.

SOURCE: BERNAMA | 26 April 2012 | 

2011 airports' passenger traffic up 10.6pc

PUTRAJAYA: Passenger traffic at the country's airports last year rose 10.63 per cent to 65.343 million passengers, from 59.065 million passengers in 2010.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said the increase was the second consecutive double-digit annual growth, with the 2010 figure 12 per cent over that of 2009.

He said the country's security and stability contributed to last year's good performance, which surpassed the ministry's target of 62 million passengers.

The growth was also encouraging as it came amid economic uncertainty in Europe and the United States in the last few years, he said.
"It shows the country was growing quite well and on the right track," he told reporters at his office here today.

Kong said the ministry targets passenger traffic to grow only five per cent this year amid the global economic uncertainty, especially in Europe and America.

He said last year, international passenger traffic grew 10.03 per cent to 30.89 million passengers, from 28.007 million in 2010, while domestic passenger traffic rose 10.9 per cent to 34.454 million, from 31.056 million.

Last year the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) handled 37.700 million passengers, followed by the airports of Kota Kinabalu (5.809 million), Penang (4.6 million) and Kuching (4.287 million).

Other airports handling over a million passengers were Miri (1.857 million), Langkawi (1.504 million), Johor Baharu (1.338 million), Sibu (1.133 million), Kota Baharu (1.132 million) and Subang (1.320 million).

On PJ Utara MP Tony Pua's allegation in a news portal today that the construction cost of the West Coast Expressway had escalated from its original estimate of RM3.015 billion, Kong said the project was planned a long time ago.

Kong said the expressway was long overdue and it was very important to implement the project immediately in order to stimulate the economies of the states involved, adding if it was not implemented now, the cost would escalate further in future. - Bernama

SOURCE: The New Straits Times | 30 January 2012 |