MAS plans leisure flights from KLIA2 in 2017

MAS had seen great progress in the last 10 months with many turnaround initiatives working.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines Bhd plans to operate some leisure flights from Kuala Lumpur KLIA2 in 2017 where the costs are lower as it continues with its turnaround initiatives, says its new chief executive officer Peter Bellew.

Bellew, who took over as CEO of Malaysia Aviation Group and MAS on Friday, said the decision to have some leisure flights at KLIA2 was due to the lower airport costs.

At the KLIA2, he said costs are lower by RM33 (US$8.25) per passenger lower or RM5,412 (US$1,350) per flight. 

“On one daily flight this simple saving will be RM1,975,380 or US$500,000 per annum. We will pass on these savings to customers with lower fares. Each and every cost of everything we do will be minutely checked daily without changing any quality,” he said.

He also said MAS had seen great progress in the last 10 months with many turnaround initiatives working. 

“Our first quarter showed performance indicators on track with yield up 23.4%, costs down by 32.9% and our bottom line ahead of budget,” he said.

Bellew added MAS had already seen fuel savings of 10,000 tonnes in the first quarter but more can be done. 

He emphasised that saving money, does not mean compromising on safety or on its products and services. 

He also said the goal would be to fly customers safely to places they want to go with great value fares and superior service on clean modern aircraft. 

“We will stop doing things that lose money. We will rebuild our relationships with the travel trade globally. We will lead a worldwide marketing initiative promoting the wonders of Malaysia. We will start new routes from various Malaysian airports to new unserved Asean destinations.

“A new website, mobile app, trade reservations system and airport equipment will all be in place over the next 12 months. 

“The digital experience when booking with Malaysian Airlines will see significant investment in 2016/17. From choice of seats to quality of the nasi lemak to time of travel, we need to ensure that the needs of each guest with different individual preferences are met,” he said.

Source: The Star | Business | 1 July 2016