Singapore Airlines is the passengers' choice for 2007--Skytrax :banana:



Singapore Airlines takes top honour in the World Airline Awards, with Thai Airways in 2nd place, and Cathay Pacific 3rd


"WORLD AIRLINE AWARDS TM : the world's most recognised and renowned airline Awards"

AIRLINE OF THE YEAR : 2007


1 Singapore Airlines

2 Thai Airways

3 Cathay Pacific

4 Qatar Airways

5 Qantas

6 Malaysia Airlines

7 Air New Zealand

8 China Airlines

9 Emirates

10 British Airways

© Copyright Skytrax


Singapore Airlines is named as winner of the prestigious Airline of the Year title, top honour of the 2007 World Airline Awards.


"This has been our longest running passenger survey and our largest ever" said Edward Plaisted (CEO of survey organisation, Skytrax).

"Over 14 million eligible nominations were received from around the world ... we were heartened by the international appeal of the survey. From Beijing to Buenos Aires, Sydney to Stockholm, the sheer breadth of the project adds yet further support to the title of the World's Largest Passenger Survey."




Commenting on the World Airline Awards, Edward Plaisted (CEO of Skytrax) said ....

"We would use this opportunity to thank media sources around the world who continue to express such enormous interest and support in the survey results. As an organisation, we have striven hard to ensure we deliver not only the world's best airline survey, but the most credible and accurate. Doing this without sponsorship or advertising is not easy, but we now deliver an unmatched formula and level of expertise in this field.

This is the second time in the history of the World Airline Awards that Singapore Airlines has emerged as overall winner, and we congratulate them on this outstanding achievement. In a survey of this scale and duration, our data section have seen the top 5 positions fluctuate on quite a regular basis, and we would highlight the performance of these other airlines - Thai Airways (up from 4th in 2006), Cathay Pacific (a former winner, 3rd), Qatar Airways in 4th (a new entrant to the Top 5 group), and Qantas in 5th position.

All the Awards announced today represent a level of excellence achievement by the winning airlines. We all like to be recognised for success we have achieved, and whilst we honour the successful airlines here, I also pay due respect to the significant achievements by many airline that may have missed out on a top place by just a very small margin.

As well as picking the overall Airline of the Year title, Singapore Airlines was named Best Business Class in a very competitive section of the survey. Surely in part recognising Singapore Airlines new Business Class product, we will await next year to see what customers think about the yet to be unveiled product standards on their Airbus A380 aircraft.

"Thai Airways achieved an impressive performance, taking 2nd place overall in the Survey, as well as walking off with the Best First Class Lounge Award, and 3rd position in the Cabin Staff section.

A former Airline of the Year winner, Cathay Pacific (3rd), was a very consistent performer across the World Airline Survey, and whilst not taking a top spot in 2007, was ranked in the top 4 or 5 positions in nearly every section of study. I am sure we will see them on the top of the podium again very soon.

Qatar Airways is a new entrant to the top 5 of our blue riband Airline of the Year title, taking 4th place overall - and again, performing well in many other categories. Named Best First Class airline, Qatar Airways also picked up the Best Cabin Staff (Middle East) Award.

In this top category, Qantas ranked 5th overall, again with a number of category placings in the top 5. Down from second in the 2006 Awards, Qantas is however the highest placed airline in the Australasia region, and a very consistent performer across many product and service sections.

It is appropriate to mention that Jetstar Airways (a subsidiary of Qantas) is named the World's Best Low-Cost Airline for 2007 - wrenching the title away from Europe's Best Low-Cost Airline, Air Berlin, who were the global winners in 2006.

Sixth place goes to Malaysia Airlines, moving up from three their 2006 result, but they should be delighted to learn that they are back to winning ways in 2007, taking the world's Best Cabin Staff Award. It is a title that Malaysia Airlines picked up in a number of previous years, losing their crown to Thai Airways last year.

The cabin staff Awards were as keenly contested this year as on any previous occasion, and I understand that for the last 4 weeks of the Cabin Staff survey, our data section watched the winning position swap around between the final Top 3 airlines several times. I am sure this will remain a keenly fought Award category, reflecting as it does the level of service hospitality.

I would like to pay particular thanks at this time to all of our Survey participants, without whom none of this would be possible. We have received a lot of positive feedback during the course of the studies, and try where possible to take onboard suggestions on how we can improve areas for future year surveys."




Other results


BEST CABIN STAFF


1 Malaysia Airlines
2 Singapore Airlines
3 Thai Airways
4 Cathay Pacific Airways
5 Qatar Airways



BEST CATERING


1 Gulf Air
2 Cathay Pacific
3 Singapore Airlines
4 Qantas
5 Korean Air



BEST INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

1 Emirates
2 Singapore Airlines
3 Cathay Pacific
4 Korean Air
5 Virgin Atlantic



BEST FIRST CLASS LOUNGES


1 Thai Airways - BKK
2 Qatar Airways - DOH
3 Lufthansa - FRA
4 Cathay Pacific - HKG
5 South African Airways - JNB
6 Malaysia Airlines - KUL
7 Korean Air - ICN
8 Singapore Airlines - SIN
9 ANA - NRT
10 Asiana Airlines - ICN


BEST BUSINESS CLASS LOUNGES

1 Virgin Atlantic - LHR
2 Cathay Pacific - HKG
3 Qatar Airways - DOH
4 Qantas Airways - SYD
5 Gulf Air - BAH
6 Malaysia Airlines - KUL
7 China Airlines - TPE
8 Swiss - ZRH
9 Asiana Airlines - ICN
10 Air New Zealand - AKL


BEST FIRST CLASS

1 Qatar Airways
2 Singapore Airlines
3 Cathay Pacific
4 Malaysia Airlines
5 Thai Airways



BEST BUSINESS CLASS

1 Singapore Airlines
2 Virgin Atlantic
3 Cathay Pacific
4 Malaysia Airlines
5 Air New Zealand



BEST ECONOMY CLASS

1 Korean Air
2 Malaysia Airlines
3 Singapore Airlines
4 Qatar Airways
5 Asiana Airlines

Malaysia airlines only got cabin staff as first! I also thought they would receive the award for best economy class???!!! :(

^^ But Economy class # 2 lah ! Ok lah tu ! :banana:

^^ I guess it's good enough. :)

why singapore airlines got top award? flew with them 3 times.will never again....cabin crew drop full cup of hot coffee on my lap twice in two different flight. enough....

^^ Alah.... bende kecik je tu :nuts:
I highly reccommend Singapore Airlines -- VERY high-quality airlines with very excellent and consistent service :banana:

^^ Alah.... bende kecik je tu :nuts:
I highly reccommend Singapore Airlines -- VERY high-quality airlines with very excellent and consistent service :banana:

Sure SIA - VERY high quality airlines.but not for me - anymore. I am very happy with Emirates/Qantas.

^^^ Emirates is good? I'm flying with Emirates this September...my first time.

Emirates has good service, but obviously lower than Singapore or Malaysia Airlines. It has superb IFE, but the seats can be cramped on many of the planes. Food is great.

why is that too hard for MAS to beat SIA? always loss to them....

why is that too hard for MAS to beat SIA? always loss to them....

Hmmm.. I think it's something to do with budget ,planning and marketing.. Mas trying to be the best or different with other airlines, but they dont know how to to do it. Sometimes small things change can make a big impact of the product. U can see SG airlines promoting their products in the website, TV ad etc. with MAS hmmm..example of MAS website..Do u see any MAS product been highlight in the first page, like cabin crew, ameneties etc, even the TV ads are not working..It's look like a travel agents website..flight booking only..!

Look at SG..the new design of business class seat, totally different from other airlines. MAS business class seats is average with other airlines..

I Still believe MAS can rival SG one day, but MAS have to work hard and make some changes, especially with the product and brand..

Good Luck for MAS:)

^^yes, MAS did that too...in TIME, National Geographic mag etc......
but as i said on previous, in order to restructure their budget, MAS should not be stingy in doing aggressive campaign....their ad in TIME b4 was quite imposing, i tell you...

go to airline thread, less of them talk about MAS. but mostly talk about Thai, Qantas, SIA, Cathay, emirates.......

MAS got less publicity...

^^ I think one of the thing that pull back MH compared to SQ n otherz is the.... font of "Malaysia Airlines " logo......i really like the kinda "Emirates " and "Sri Lankan Airlines " :banana:

^^yes, MAS did that too...in TIME, National Geographic mag etc......
but as i said on previous, in order to restructure their budget, MAS should not be stingy in doing aggressive campaign....their ad in TIME b4 was quite imposing, i tell you...

go to airline thread, less of them talk about MAS. but mostly talk about Thai, Qantas, SIA, Cathay, emirates.......

MAS got less publicity...

Yes, they did, but they have to work and do more, especially with the brand & products. They should do something a little bit different with others, so the passenger will remember it. Example: Give a local kuih to the passenger after the meal or for a snack for long haul flight, save cost and a lot to choose. this is just an idea:)

‘Not enough aircraft’
By AYU MUSA KAMAL
IMAGINE being late for an important meeting that had been scheduled months earlier through no fault of yours.
This sinking feeling hit a prominent businessman yesterday when his fl ight from Penang to Kuala Lumpur was delayed for more than an hour.




Many seasoned travellers may think it is a normal scenario caused by unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather. But to the businessman, enough is enough.

“Malaysia Airlines has been trying to convince its passengers that its service will improve. But from what I experienced, there has been no improvement,” he told The Malay Mail.

He said to make things worse, it was not his fi rst time experiencing a problem on a Malaysia Airlines fl ight.

“This is the second time in a row.” He said a few weeks ago, he nearly missed his fl ight, also from Penang to Kuala Lumpur.

“My secretary had booked my fl ight weeks earlier, but when I was at Bayan Lepas Airport in Penang to check in, I was told by the ticketing offi cers that my name was not on the list,” the businessman said.

He said he was upset because everything had been scheduled. He thought it was ridiculous for them not to have his name.

“I demanded to speak to other offi cers, who later checked my status in KL, and confi rmed that my name was there.

“Apparently my name was struck out by somebody, which was unacceptable,” he said, adding that he failed to see the point of making advance bookings if such problems kept recurring.

“I was saved when there was a last-minute cancellation.

“Imagine if everybody had turned up, I would need to pay for another ticket when it was not even my fault.” The businessman said yesterday’s glitch was different, but it caused a problem nonetheless.

“My fl ight from Penang was scheduled for 5.10pm.

Initially it was delayed to 5.40pm, but we only boarded the fl ight at 6.30pm.” When he questioned the airline’s personnel over the delay, he was told there was a shortage of aircraft.

“How could there be a shortage of aircraft? It’s puzzling how there’s no aircraft available when the fl ight was already scheduled.

“I think Malaysia Airlines owes its passengers an explanation,” said the businessman, adding that it should not happen, especially during Visit Malaysia Year.

“As a result, I was late for my meeting, and I’m sure other passengers were inconvenienced as well.” When contacted, a Malaysia Airlines offi cer handling complaints and fl ight details said the delay was caused by operational reasons.

Very bad.... :(

not enough aircraft...?huh..is that what a 'recovery' has to do? getting money from selling all assets. this is not a smart restructuring lah Idris Jala!

September 03, 2007 21:13 PM

MAS Is Top 7th Brand In Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines (MAS) was recently named the country's top seventh brand in Asia's Top 1000 Brands Survey 2007 for Malaysia.

The annual survey was conducted by media, advertising and marketing publication Media magazine, regional brand consultancy Asia Integrated Media Limited and global market research company, Synovate, MAS said in a statement today.

The survey covered nine markets including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, India and Indonesia.

-- BERNAMA

Emirates has good service, but obviously lower than Singapore or Malaysia Airlines. It has superb IFE, but the seats can be cramped on many of the planes. Food is great.

I like Emirates in-flight entertainment, best giler. :banana:
will b goin back to UK this september on that airline again. :banana: :banana:

2007/09/11

MAS service: Customers our priority
By : DATUK RASHID KHAN, Commercial Director, Malaysia Airlines

Email to friend Print article


WE refer to the letter "Cutting costs takes a toll" by Victor Wong of Kuala Lumpur (NST, Aug 31).

At Malaysia Airlines, we are continuously improving our services. As part of our business turnaround plan, we are striving to improve customer experience at all our touchpoints — from purchase, pre-embarkation, inflight to disembarkation. Today, we have 312 initiatives to improve customer experience under our customer value proposition (CVP) programme.

Under the CVP, we are constantly improving the quality of our inflight meals by using fresh produce as well as working with local chefs in the respective countries to develop new menus. This has led to our catering in economy class being rated No. 3 in the World Airline Survey conducted by airline auditor, Skytrax.

In addition, we have plans to purchase 55 narrow-bodied aircraft. The idea is to own aircraft which we can refresh as and when necessary to ensure that we will have one of the youngest fleets in the region.

We wish to reassure Victor Wong that while we move towards keeping costs as low as possible, we strive to upgrade our services to remain competitive and be the preferred choice of our customers.

Late planes in July but heavy profit
By Chong Pooi Koon
pooikoon@nstp.com.my


September 12 2007


MALAYSIA Airlines (MAS) made the most monthly profit in July this year, the month when half its flights were not on time, managing director Datuk Idris Jala said.

The airline ran a tight schedule during the month. This means that the time for planes to land and take off was shortened considerably.

It also means that MAS was exposed to domino-effect delays if any of its flights were late.

But there were other factors that made things worse and MAS experienced a perfect storm that month, Idris said.

MAS had started to revamp its entire passenger services system in July, while one runway at the KL International Airport (KLIA) was closed.

In addition, there were four days in July that MAS had a few aircraft grounded for maintenance. The carrier also started its first employee appraisal in its corporate history, which affected staff performance.

The massive delays in July sparked an uproar among the public, and even in Parliament.

MAS has since reverted to its old schedule and the on-time performance is back to the high of about 80 per cent, Idris said.

"Everything has its silver lining. July was the worst operation month since I became chief executive officer, but it was also the best financially," Idris said in a conference on transformational leadership in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

"Life is about the trade-off. In the US, the most profitable airlines are those that pissed off the customers most," he said.

Still, it was a lesson well learned, he said, and MAS plans to reintroduce the same tight schedule next January because of the good profit.

Idris gave the assurance that other elements would be properly controlled to avert a repeat of the heavy delays.

Staff are also happy now with the performance management system being reviewed and an interim bonus paid.

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Malaysia Airlines Successfully Launches e.Digital's Portable 8" eVU(TM) IFE System and Services

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

e.Digital Corporation, a leading innovator of dedicated portable inflight entertainment (IFE) systems and patented flash memory-related technology, announced that Malaysia Airlines has successfully launched e.Digital's proprietary 8" portable eVU™ entertainment system and services. Malaysia Airlines is providing eVUs to First Class and Business Class passengers on several of its regional, semi-long haul A330 aircraft on North and South Asia routes.

Malaysia Airlines, the national carrier of Malaysia, is recognized as one of Asia's largest, flying more than 48,000 passengers to some 100 destinations across 6 continents every day. It has established itself as an award-winning airline, having received more than 100 awards in the last 10 years.

e.Digital's enhanced studio-approved eVU portable entertainment system features a multi-language customizable passenger-friendly interface and an industry-leading 20+ hours of continuous video playback from a single battery charge. eVU is available in either 7" or 8" high resolution LCD screen with 40 GB to 200 GB of rugged and reliable storage for many hours of movies, television shows, music, specialty programming and games. eVU is the smallest and lightest dedicated long play portable IFE product available today and integrates the latest in battery safety features through its removable "Smart" rechargeable high capacity battery pack.

"We are pleased with e.Digital and eVU's performance," said Malaysia Airlines Commercial Director, Rashid Khan. "e.Digital's eVU system complements our award-winning cabin service to make flying with Malaysia Airlines an enjoyable experience."

"We provided Malaysia Airlines a customized passenger interface to maintain fleet-wide IFE consistency," commented Will Blakeley, president of e.Digital. "We also opened a technical support office in Kuala Lumpur to service Malaysia Airlines and our growing IFE business in Asia. We appreciate the opportunity to support Malaysia Airlines' portable IFE requirements."

Tuesday September 18, 2007


MAS reschedules routes for continued profitable operations

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is firmly on the path towards continued profitable operations.

In a statement, managing director/chief executive officer Datuk Idris Jala said this was based on the airline's route analysis initiatives and the continuous upgrade of customer value propositions.

“Having successfully anchored all aspects of our operations to the P&L (profit & loss), we are working aggressively towards becoming a five-star airline with a low-cost carrier's cost,” he said in announcing the changes to MAS' international network for the Northern Winter 2007 operations, starting Oct 28.

Idris said these attributes had been factored into the new schedules, with emphasis on regions like South Asia and Australia.

“These regions continue to be promising and have further potential to contribute towards the profitability of the company,” he said.

MAS said it would add a fourth weekly frequency every Thursday on the Kuala Lumpur-Maldives-Colombo-Kuala Lumpur route and a similar frequency on the Kuala Lumpur/Bangalore route every Saturday.

It would also introduce two weekly morning frequencies on the KL/Chennai/KL route every Thursday and Sunday.

In view of encouraging demand, the current Tuesday frequency of the KL/Hyderabad return flight now using the 229-seater Airbus A330-200 aircraft would be upgraded to a 294-seater Airbus A330-300 flight effective Oct 28, it said.

MAS said a new destination, Lahore/Pakistan, would be added effective Jan 7.

“We will operate three weekly flights (on Monday, Thursday and Saturday) from KL to this city. This destination will be linked to the KL-Karachi return route,” it said.

The airline said the present twice-weekly KL/Istanbul return direct A330-200 service would be realigned to twice-weekly KL-Dubai-Istanbul return service effective Jan 8.

MAS said for the Malaysia-Australia operations, a fifth weekly frequency on Tuesdays would be introduced on the KL/Adelaide return route during the peak period effective Dec 4 to Feb 6.

“Likewise, a third weekly evening frequency will be mounted for the KL/Perth return route every Wednesday during the peak period effective Dec 5 to Feb 7,” it said.

On the China operations, MAS said the present four-time weekly KL-Xiamen frequency would be reduced to thrice weekly effective Oct 28. – Bernama

terminate all route lah....just fly KL-singapore. then MAS can be a syiok sendiri company....boleh simpan duit dalam bank banyak-banyak...and make a statement, 'we have a lot of money in bank'

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g150/masjan/DSC01459.jpg

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posted by a skyscrapercity member....it means, MAS is not canceling A380 yet...:yes:

I think MAS won't cancel the A380 since it appears that the order is more of pride and prestige than anything else. If I were MAS, I'd be thinking, my 2 closest competitors (Thai and Singapore Airlines) aren't cancelling and are in fact planning to order more, why should I cancel?

^^you have no idea on how current management is too desperate, they can do ANYTHING to get money....

pride and prestige?...that is an old story about MAS :ohno:, they are now 'competing' with AirAsia, being downgraded themselves....

Travel Expert Warns Malaysia Airlines Of Market Loss Over Mealboxes
October 16, 2007 9:56 p.m. EST



Vittorio Hernandez - AHN News Writer
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (AHN) - Holiday Tours and Travel general manager Danny Jee is warning Malaysia Airlines it may lose its passenger base if it sticks to using meal boxes introduced on October 1.

Air flyers expecting frills may instead switch to budget carriers.

The boxed meals were served first on MAS' Indochina routes specifically flights between Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Yangon and Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Kuching, and Miri and Kota Kinabalu.

MAS will offer the same food service on all remaining regional flights beginning January 2008.

According to Standard & Poor's Equity Research, MAS' change to meal boxes from traditional tray meals sought to trim expenses and simplify operations. It is merely following new measures adapted by U.S. and European carriers for short haul routes.

But Jee said instead of competing with budget airlines on airfares, MAS should focus on further indulging passengers to draw the line between services offered by Full Service Carriers and budget airlines.

"Not everyone is willing to fly on a budget airline. There is still a sizeable market that prefers to fly with FSCs, simply because of the five-star service as well as the pampering factor they offer," Jee said.

MAS is only one of five global airlines award a 5-star rating by Skytrax, a U.K. based consultancy that ranks in flight services of air carriers.

MAS should follow SIA, Thai and Cathay Pacific and the other 5 star airlines instead of following the US and UK airlines. The should find other ways to cut cost and not cut meal service.

They should upgrade their meals instead of lowering the quality and quantity. BAD IDEA.

I totally agree. There is no such thing as a 5 star low cost airline. In the end, the airline will end up nowhere.

If it really wants to retain the short haul markets, and yet stay low cost in offering meal boxes et cetera, it should start a regional airline, something like Silkair or Dragonair.

MAS is just hurting their regional network and in the end, will hurt their premium status.

Anyway, regarding the A380 order, MAS is generally agreed to be loss-making and hence is cutting many routes. And so, in a cost cutting move, the A380 would be the ideal first cut since the B747s are being reduced also. So, unless MAS has routes to justify 6 A380 in the fleet, I will say this is more of pride since neither Thai nor Singapore Airlines, which are MAS' main competitors are cutting their A380 order.

I totally agree. There is no such thing as a 5 star low cost airline. In the end, the airline will end up nowhere.


that is what i've said...MAS is competing with AirAsia, not SIA or Cathay....as usual malaysian companies love being a 'jaguh kampung' (a kampung champion)....no wonder lah its CEO also came from kampung/hutan....

you guys can guess if MAS get removed from SKYTRAX 5-star airline status, what is their excuse?....most probably Idris Jala would say "We(MAS) is still better than Zimbabwe Airline or Myanmar Airlinee even though we got removed"

Anyway, regarding the A380 order, MAS is generally agreed to be loss-making and hence is cutting many routes. And so, in a cost cutting move, the A380 would be the ideal first cut since the B747s are being reduced also. So, unless MAS has routes to justify 6 A380 in the fleet, I will say this is more of pride since neither Thai nor Singapore Airlines, which are MAS' main competitors are cutting their A380 order.

again, i will say...MAS main competitor now is AirAsia!

^^ It is sad to see MAS managment has become so so inferior ! I guess they really don't bother the about the well built image of being one of the five star airline in the world in order to maintain profitability...!

to me..their decision of having "mealboxes" instead of tradition tray being served for their food service will only make me more likely to choose Low Cost Airline like AirAsia for my trips. Why should i pay more for having nothing much better ! ...:ohno:..

^^ It is sad to see MAS managment has become so so inferior ! I guess they really don't bother the about the well built image of being one of the five star airline in the world in order to maintain profitability...!

to me..their decision of having "mealboxes" instead of tradition tray being served for their food service will only make me more likely to choose Low Cost Airline like AirAsia for my trips. Why should i pay more for having nothing much better ! ...:ohno:..


Well said. I am sure most travellers will do the same and choose low cost airlines now as there is no reason to pay extra on MAS. The planes are old, service is hit and miss and you get a meal box. Aint worth it. This will hurt their bottomline and their reputation in the future. If they keep making bad decisions, won't be surprised if they lose their 5 star status.

^^ I still can't accept MAS will terminate Nagoya ......... I traveled frequently NGO-KUL and they are always FULL.

MAS should get more planes and introduce many and many destinations especially in China ( Xian, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Harbin, Shenyang, Hangzhou, Nanjing etc ) and India ( Ahmedabad, Goa, Pune, Amritsar, Jaipur, Lucknow, Cochin, COimbatore, Tiruchi etc ) . If there are any unprofitable or low-load routes, make a big promotion to reach a higher load ! Don't suspend the routes ! :(

^^ I still can't accept MAS will terminate Nagoya ......... I traveled frequently NGO-KUL and they are always FULL.

MAS should get more planes and introduce many and many destinations especially in China ( Xian, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Harbin, Shenyang, Hangzhou, Nanjing etc ) and India ( Ahmedabad, Goa, Pune, Amritsar, Jaipur, Lucknow, Cochin, COimbatore, Tiruchi etc ) . If there are any unprofitable or low-load routes, make a big promotion to reach a higher load ! Don't suspend the routes ! :(


i somehow find that MAS is just gettttting from bad to worse....i used to love mas and felt really proud of them..but now,,,sigh~~....feeel really sad for them.........just imagine,,,,,,in the past,,they used to boast that they fly to over 100 destinations across 5 continents......and now????/from over 100 destinations dropped to 76 destinations//....and out of the 76 destinations,,,some of the destinations they fly are those not really wellknown cities like lahore,,pakistan,,ahmedabad,,etc..........they terminated alot of wellknown destinations like nagoya,,,frankfurt,,vienna,,manchester,,,cairo,,,,,,and many more....u can check out those terminated destinations on malaysia airlines wikipedia.....:ohno:


looks like SIA is soaring really high now....they just received their brand new
a380.........and the interior is just superb........

sigh........what's gonna happen to malaysia airlines???:ohno::ohno::ohno::ohno::ohno::ohno:

^^ Jangan risau, kita masih ada Air Asia X :)

I guess some of you should write to MAS or even the Star so that it publishes your concerns and suggestions in their column. Then, may be Mr. Jala will realize that he is really in deep SHxT for downsizing and downgrading MAS so much while its competitors are expanding. Keep in mind that MAS employees are the lowly paid ones compared to other major carriers and MAS could use those money saved to improve their products. I must admit that MAS FA's service is the best but hey, how good can they be if one day there is nothing (no products) to serve?

No money to buy more planes? Then why spend hundred of millions upgrading those domestic airports which only serve one destination, like Alor Star, KT, Ipoh, and Labuan? Those money could have been well spent else where.

how i wish malaysia could have another brand new airline....so they we would have two airlines from malaysia.....one is ofcourse,,,malaysia airlines,,,and the other one we could maybe named it malaysia airways...or air malaysia.....or malaysia international airlines.....etcblah blah

and who knows,,,the brand new airline,,,having a new management would be better than mas???and best of all,,with two airlines in the country,,,there'll be even more competition as both of them would be rivals....what i could ay i tha mas fares these days are just exorbitant........i ahev a feeeling they raised up their fares...........

i think it's allright for a country to have more than an airline....take china as example,,,,,they ahve china eastern airlines,,,shina southern airlines,,,air china etc...

and for UAE,,they have qatar airways,,,,gulf air,,,emirates etc,,,,,

so,,,,,in my opinion,,,,,having another airline might be great.....a better and newer airline that flies to even more destinations ,,who knows more than 120 or 130.........and better seats,,,a brand new economy,first,business with brand new exciting features..........better meals instead of mealbox..~~....

so,,what do u think guys???malaysia airways????any comments,,any better names??,??correct me if i'm wrong...

^^ Jangan risau, kita masih ada Air Asia X :)

air asia x isstill classified as a budget airline...

Travel Expert Warns Malaysia Airlines Of Market Loss Over Mealboxes
October 16, 2007 9:56 p.m. EST

Vittorio Hernandez - AHN News Writer
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (AHN) - Holiday Tours and Travel general manager Danny Jee is warning Malaysia Airlines it may lose its passenger base if it sticks to using meal boxes introduced on October 1.


OMG meal boxes? I thought only Garuda did that! :ohno::ohno:

What do we really want. A 5 star airline or a profitable airline.:nuts:

What do we really want. A 5 star airline or a profitable airline.:nuts:

Both. Like SIA.

Let Idris Jala finish his mission at MAS:cheers:

COMMENT BY WONG CHUN WAI

Malaysia Airlines flew into turbulence recently after a series of flight delays and cancellations. But its CEO is trying hard to steer the airline back on track.

IT’S always easy to point fingers at someone for a screw-up. In this case, it’s Senator Tajulurus Mohd Zain of the Merbok Umno division who demanded the sacking of Malaysia Airlines managing director Datuk Idris Jala for a series of flight delays and cancellations recently.

Some politicians, who assume they are very important, are fuming because they have been affected by these delays and the person they hold responsible is the MAS chief executive officer.

There is no question there are internal problems in the national airline, probably much more than what has been admitted by Idris himself but the man must be credited for doing his job – to cut losses, make profits for MAS and retain the airline’s brand name.

He has introduced the private sector culture into the once ailing airline including having the appraisal system for its 19,500 staff, which has never been done since the airline was set up but it is a common, if not mandatory practice, in private companies.

There has to be some yardstick to measure a worker’s productivity and performance but word is that there is resistant. Needless to say, an automatic increment or promotion will affect the operating costs of the airline.

Last week, Tajulurus, who is a member of the Senators’ Club, called for Idris’ dismissal to prevent a further “sliding of services” by the national carrier.

MAS, he said, was fast losing its credibility and its services was regressing from “bad to worse,” adding that Idris should leave and MAS was bogged down with internal problems.

Tajulurus has chosen to overlook some basic facts – Idris has only been on the helm for a little over one-and-a-half years, taking a job which nobody wanted as the balance sheet of the company read like a horror book.

Inheriting a mountain of problems, he has slowly built up the airline. The task has been difficult, particularly from interfering politicians but to his credit, he has chosen to be forward-looking, refusing to answer questions from reporters who often attempt to dig for information about the company’s scandalous past.

From flying to unprofitable destinations, in the name of South-South co-operation to overpriced nasi lemak, to some members of the royalty who refused to pay for their tickets and overweight baggage, Idris has tried to reduce the obstacles one by one, fully aware that he is stepping on sensitive areas.

In just a year after Idris took over, MAS returned a first-quarter 2007 profit of RM133mil. It’s a feat, really.

Tajulurus may be unhappy but OSK Investment Research, for example, retained its “buy” call for MAS on July 17 despite the bad press involving delays blamed on technical glitches, bad weather and problems with a new computer system.

In short, Idris has tried to avoid political and commercial turbulences, which Malaysians are familiar with, and at the same time, show other CEOs he can make MAS fly again, yielding positive results.

Malaysians are also looking forward to its low-cost subsidiary, Firefly, which is expected to begin operate flights from Subang and Senai to Ipoh.

OSK also reported that “we maintain our buy call on expectations of a code-sharing agreement with a Chinese airline which will help bolster connectivity starting in 2008,” it said.

There are challenges ahead for MAS – by Jan 1, 2009, Asean would have opened up its skies, making the airline industry highly deregulated – that means more traffic rights to airlines with the possibility of supply outstripping demand.

Already, there are 400 new planes this year and another 500 new ones next year from Middle East and India, based on Boeing and Airbus’ order bookings.

Idris has no choice except to drive towards a more performance-based culture, as he said in a recent interview. He has been given the mandate and he should use it well, never mind what the politicians want to say.

But Idris also need to manage its switch-over to the new IT system better as no passenger would want to stand at the check-in counter for 30 minutes to get a boarding pass and then wait for another two hours before flying off because of a delay.

Worse, there have been cases of passengers being stranded for days.

More importantly, he must take seriously the talk of an “unofficial go-slow” involving alleged discontent over its shares option and bonuses. His hands are clearly full as he has 14 unions to deal with, a nightmare no CEO has to tackle.

Clearly, MAS cannot afford flight delays, irrespective of the causes, or purported cases of over-booking, which can be regarded as an economic sabotage to the Government’s Visit Malaysia 2007.

Still, it is no surprise that MAS won the “World’s Best Cabin Staff” award at the World Airlines Award 2007, which involved an 11-month survey.

The smiles of our MAS crew and the nasi lemak that awaits Malaysians after being away from home have long made the national carrier a winner.

For Jala and his staff, it also means keeping the company profitable and more important, to fly on time.

So... let's give Idris Jala time to manage MAS.... dia sendiri kata .. masa dia ambil alih MAS dulu MAS tak cukup cash ! ...takde siapa pun yg nak memegang jawatan pengerusi MAS masa tu sebab kedudukan kewangan MAS terlalu teruk... rasanya Idris Jala ada plan yang besar untuk masa depan.... kita kena beri dia masa... pada masa yang sama kita kena berdoa lah agar MAS menjadi syarikat penerbangan yang besar macam SIA, Emirates, Cathay, etc :)

So... let's give Idris Jala time to manage MAS.... dia sendiri kata .. masa dia ambil alih MAS dulu MAS tak cukup cash ! ...takde siapa pun yg nak memegang jawatan pengerusi MAS masa tu sebab kedudukan kewangan MAS terlalu teruk... rasanya Idris Jala ada plan yang besar untuk masa depan.... kita kena beri dia masa... pada masa yang sama kita kena berdoa lah agar MAS menjadi syarikat penerbangan yang besar macam SIA, Emirates, Cathay, etc :)

^^Hope he can really turn MAS to become a better airline and not just cost cutting until become worse! I wish him all the best!:)

posted by a skyscrapercity member....it means, MAS is not canceling A380 yet...:yes:

I am afraid MAS might have cancelled or have not confirmed their A380 orders yet. Below is the link that you can track down the order and delivery of airbus aircrafts for all airlines. The record shows that the A380 order from MAS is ZERO.

http://www.airbus.com/en/corporate/orders_and_deliveries/

It is listed under Penerbangan malaysia bhd- 6 orders

MAS Disappointed With Premature Opening Of KL-Singapore Route

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- National carrier Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is disappointed that the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route will be "prematurely" opened to limited flights by low cost airlines.

Managing director Datuk Idris Jala said today the airline's Business Turnaround Plan (BTP) was designed around the Asean open skies roadmap coming into play on Jan 1, 2009.

But at the same time, he did not discount the possibility of its "community airline" subsidiary Firefly getting to operate between Subang and Singapore.

"We needed time to put Malaysia Airlines strongly on the path of growth as we are working on a number of major initiatives to ensure sustained profitability," he said in a statement.

"We will now need to fast track these plans," he said in response to the opening of the lucrative KL-Singapore route. "We had hoped that we would be able to stick to the original timeline."

The opening of the route announced by both Malaysia and Singapore today will enable low-cost carrier AirAsia to ply the route.

The sector is currently a duoploy between Singapore Airlines (SIA) and MAS under a shuttle service arrangement since 1982 to provide frequent and regular services through coordinated schedules.

Neverthless, Jala said, MAS is all for fair competition and "we believe in the concept of open skies.

"Although we have been gearing up for the open skies and growing competition in 2009 by starting the ball rolling to transform Malaysia Airlines into a truly 5-star airline operating on a low cost structure, with no compromise on quality and safety, we needed time to put Malaysia Airlines strongly on the path of growth."

This is because MAS is working on a number of major initiatives to ensure sustained profitability. "We will now need to fast track these plans," he added.

Key amongst these initiatives is growing and strengthening its network.

"Our BTP covers expanding our hub-and-spoke network with many other airlines including Virgin Blue (Australia), Alitalia (southern Europe) and South African Airways (SAA).

"When we started these partnerships, we began with a few routes and we need time to expand the coverage. SAA is an example of a multiple spokes deal (10 domestic routes in Africa).

"If we can get the feeder, this means that we can increase our frequencies to Africa because SAA will provide the feed. We cannot fully develop all these hub-and-spoke networks overnight, and it will take time to reap the benefits of these partnerships," said Jala.

He said Firefly's expansion is also an integral part of its BTP - "We need new aircraft to expand. Firefly currently has two aircraft and deliveries of the 20 ATR72-500 aircraft purchased will only commence from Quarter 3, 2008.

"However, with the limited opening of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route, we hope that Firefly will get to operate between Subang and Singapore," he said.

Besides this, he said, MAS is changing its Passenger Services System to enable self service check-in and full interline e-ticketing.

"We are building a new e-commerce platform which will further simplify passenger travel and lower our costs," he added.

Jala said MAS has also embarked on a number of key projects to lower its operational costs "to deliver what our customers feel is of value to them in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.

"These projects will strengthen Malaysia Airlines' competitive advantages but time is required to reap the full benefit of these initiatives."

-- BERNAMA

It is listed under Penerbangan malaysia bhd- 6 orders

Thanks! Happy to know that. BTW, when is its first delivery?

MAS To Discontinue KL-Zurich Route


From Leslean Arshad

ZURICH, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- National carrier, Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS), will discontinue its Kuala Lumpur-Zurich route next year.

The plan was reported in the travel- and aviation-based websites here which said that MAS would end the KL-Zurich services, which it has been operating as code-share flights with Swiss International Air Lines Ltd, on January 24.

The matter was also discussed at the meeting between Switzerland Federal Councillor, Doris Leuthard, and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz here.

Rafidah is leading a 30-member trade delegation to Paris, Frankfurt and Zurich.

She said Leuthard had conveyed the hope of the Swiss private sector and business community to her that MAS would not pursue the plan.

Rafidah said according to Leuthard, Swiss businessmen find it convenient to use MAS' KL-Zurich services.

"They hope that MAS will not discontinue the flight because this is a useful route for them," she said.

Rafidah said though she understood MAS' decision would be based on profit/loss basis, she nevertheless, would convey the Swiss request to the airline.

-- BERNAMA

^^Dang..bad news for my uncle.

^^ Don't worry... Air Asia X kan ada :naughty: :naughty:

Let Idris Jala finish his mission at MAS :cheers:

COMMENT BY WONG CHUN WAI

Malaysia Airlines flew into turbulence recently after a series of flight delays and cancellations. But its CEO is trying hard to steer the airline back on track.

IT’S always easy to point fingers at someone for a screw-up. In this case, it’s Senator Tajulurus Mohd Zain of the Merbok Umno division who demanded the sacking of Malaysia Airlines managing director Datuk Idris Jala for a series of flight delays and cancellations recently.

Some politicians, who assume they are very important, are fuming because they have been affected by these delays and the person they hold responsible is the MAS chief executive officer.

There is no question there are internal problems in the national airline, probably much more than what has been admitted by Idris himself but the man must be credited for doing his job – to cut losses, make profits for MAS and retain the airline’s brand name.

He has introduced the private sector culture into the once ailing airline including having the appraisal system for its 19,500 staff, which has never been done since the airline was set up but it is a common, if not mandatory practice, in private companies.

There has to be some yardstick to measure a worker’s productivity and performance but word is that there is resistant. Needless to say, an automatic increment or promotion will affect the operating costs of the airline.

Last week, Tajulurus, who is a member of the Senators’ Club, called for Idris’ dismissal to prevent a further “sliding of services” by the national carrier.

MAS, he said, was fast losing its credibility and its services was regressing from “bad to worse,” adding that Idris should leave and MAS was bogged down with internal problems.

Tajulurus has chosen to overlook some basic facts – Idris has only been on the helm for a little over one-and-a-half years, taking a job which nobody wanted as the balance sheet of the company read like a horror book.

Inheriting a mountain of problems, he has slowly built up the airline. The task has been difficult, particularly from interfering politicians but to his credit, he has chosen to be forward-looking, refusing to answer questions from reporters who often attempt to dig for information about the company’s scandalous past.

From flying to unprofitable destinations, in the name of South-South co-operation to overpriced nasi lemak, to some members of the royalty who refused to pay for their tickets and overweight baggage, Idris has tried to reduce the obstacles one by one, fully aware that he is stepping on sensitive areas.

In just a year after Idris took over, MAS returned a first-quarter 2007 profit of RM133mil. It’s a feat, really.

Tajulurus may be unhappy but OSK Investment Research, for example, retained its “buy” call for MAS on July 17 despite the bad press involving delays blamed on technical glitches, bad weather and problems with a new computer system.

In short, Idris has tried to avoid political and commercial turbulences, which Malaysians are familiar with, and at the same time, show other CEOs he can make MAS fly again, yielding positive results.

Malaysians are also looking forward to its low-cost subsidiary, Firefly, which is expected to begin operate flights from Subang and Senai to Ipoh.

OSK also reported that “we maintain our buy call on expectations of a code-sharing agreement with a Chinese airline which will help bolster connectivity starting in 2008,” it said.

There are challenges ahead for MAS – by Jan 1, 2009, Asean would have opened up its skies, making the airline industry highly deregulated – that means more traffic rights to airlines with the possibility of supply outstripping demand.

Already, there are 400 new planes this year and another 500 new ones next year from Middle East and India, based on Boeing and Airbus’ order bookings.

Idris has no choice except to drive towards a more performance-based culture, as he said in a recent interview. He has been given the mandate and he should use it well, never mind what the politicians want to say.

But Idris also need to manage its switch-over to the new IT system better as no passenger would want to stand at the check-in counter for 30 minutes to get a boarding pass and then wait for another two hours before flying off because of a delay.

Worse, there have been cases of passengers being stranded for days.

More importantly, he must take seriously the talk of an “unofficial go-slow” involving alleged discontent over its shares option and bonuses. His hands are clearly full as he has 14 unions to deal with, a nightmare no CEO has to tackle.

Clearly, MAS cannot afford flight delays, irrespective of the causes, or purported cases of over-booking, which can be regarded as an economic sabotage to the Government’s Visit Malaysia 2007.

Still, it is no surprise that MAS won the “World’s Best Cabin Staff” award at the World Airlines Award 2007, which involved an 11-month survey.

The smiles of our MAS crew and the nasi lemak that awaits Malaysians after being away from home have long made the national carrier a winner.

For Jala and his staff, it also means keeping the company profitable and more important, to fly on time.

Malaysia Airlines: (2007) This is MH

HSOjeTkgx0M

HSOjeTkgx0M


Oh !! I like this very much !!

source:http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/13371

Airbus ready to deliver A380 to MAS by 2009



17th November, 2007
BANGKOK: Airbus said yesterday it is ready to deliver the A380 superjumbo aircraft by 2009 to Malaysia Airlines, a two-year delay from the original delivery date.

Its chief operating officer for customers, John Leahy, said MAS has indicated it will continue with its purchase of the aircraft but no time frame has been set yet for the new delivery date.

“We are discussing with them on the compensation and the new delivery date, which was initially thought to be by 2011 or 2012. We can actually deliver to them with just two years’ delay from the original date,” he said after briefing the media on Airbus’ business plan on the sidelines of the 51st Assembly of Presidents of the Asia Pacific Airlines Association here.

“It’s up to them when they want the aircraft,” he added. MAS had ordered six Airbus A380 valued at US$1.8 billion at list price with the first delivery to have been in early 2007. Asked if MAS has indicated ordering more A380s, Leahy said there is a possibility but nothing has been finalised so far.

MAS managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Idris Jala, when met at the meeting, said nothing has been finalised yet but indicated that MAS will continue with the purchase despite reports that the order will be cancelled due to the long delay. He said the actual date of delivery will be clear by the middle of next year.

If the purchase goes through, Jala said, MAS will probably use the aircraft for long haul and to serve congested airports like Heathrow in London.

Singapore Airlines became the first commercial user of the airline recently, with flights to Australia. Leahy said the European manufacturer, which suffered two years of delay in building and delivering the A380, has firm orders for 193 A380 aircraft from 17 customers worldwide, including 21 firm orders and 16 commitments this year.

“A380 is the magnet to attract passengers. Singapore Airlines is pulling passengers from other airlines and getting cost effiency,” he said. Asked about the huge orders from Middle East airlines, including 58from Emirates, Leahy said there is big potential in that region due to the connections to 2.5 billion people within five hours flying time and five billion people within nine hours.

^^ Yaay :banana: SO I guess the A380 will be used for the following flights from KL to:

London Heathrow
Amsterdam
Taipei/Los Angeles
Paris CDG
Sydney
Melbourne

:D

With all the major airlines deciding their future by placing orders for their airplanes, I have yet to hear MAS making any kind of decision on the A380, or B787 or even the replacement of the B737-400. Only ATR being named. With this kind of slow response in a fast moving AC buy/sell world, by the time they are ready to place the order, MAS will be so far behind the queue that they will miss the opportunity to make an impact on the market.....

Malaysia Airlines to buy new aircraft
Sun Nov 18, 12:15 AM ET

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - State-owned Malaysia Airlines, which has been in the red since the Asian financial crisis a decade ago, will unveil a plan in January to buy new planes, a report said on Sunday.

"We want to provide five-star services at low-cost carrier cost," managing director Idris Jala was quoted as saying by the New Sunday Times newspaper.

He said the carrier would purchase new aircraft to beef up its existing fleet of 89 planes but did not give specifics.

""We are in the midst of finalising our requirement for both narrow and wide-body aircraft. We have received bids from Boeing and Airbus," he said.

Malaysia Airlines had placed an order for the delivery of six Airbus A380 superjumbos but delivery has ben delayed because of production problems.

The carrier launched a four billion ringgit (1.1 billion dollars) turnaround plan in March last year after it posted a 1.3 billion ringgit annual loss for 2005.

"We are on schedule, we are strongly aspiring to achieve record profits this year," he said. The carrier posted a net loss of 136 million ringgit for 2006.

Yahoo! NEWS (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071118/bs_afp/malaysiaairlinemalaysiaairlines_071118051542)

when MAS will announce to purchase new aircraft and what type of aircraft MAS purchase?:banana:

^^ this coming january..

i really hope MAS will continue the KUL-MAN route.....

I hope MAS will fly non-stop to Los Angeles and New York:banana:

KUALA LUMPUR: National carrier Malaysia Airlines announced on Friday that it had signed a codeshare deal with China Southern Airlines, China's largest carrier by fleet size.

Idris Jala, Malaysia Airlines' managing director, said the agreement, which starts from Tuesday, would enable the carrier to strengthen its presence in China.

"This will further ... enable us to leverage on the strong growth of Chinese outbound travellers. We expect to see a seven percent growth in passenger volume on our China-Malaysia bound flights," he said.

Malaysia Airlines flies to Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming, Xiamen and Hong Kong.

He Zongkai, China Southern Airlines vice-president, said the agreement gave passengers greater flexibility.

Analysts said the deal could allow the carriers to save money with high fuel prices eating into airline industry profits.:banana:

I hope MAS will fly non-stop to Los Angeles and New York:banana:

Did Malaysia Airlines operate a flight to New York via Dubai previously?

previously routed via Dubai but that has stopped now routed thru Stockholm

KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysia Airlines airplane with 245 passengers onboard was forced to circle several times before landing at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport following problems with its landing gear.
The Airbus A330-300 from Guangzhou touched down safely later after the crew managed to lower the wheels manually.

MAS operations director Datuk Tajuden Abu Bakar said the plane made a normal landing, although he did not deny that MH0377 encountered difficulties on its final approach.

In a statement, he said the flight captain informed the ground crew to be on standby for towing assistance after the plane landed as the aircraft's steering system could be weak.

"The captain had not declared any emergency landing and passengers disembarked normally," said Tajuden.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad corporate communications general manager Norliza Kamarudin said the plane landed on Runway 2, which later had to be closed for 80 minutes to "facilitate flushing of spillage".

She said the closure did not cause any flight delay.:ohno:

I hope MAS will fly non-stop to Los Angeles and New York:banana:

Not with the current equipment - they'll first need to acquire the A340-500. TG and SQ operate these on their non-stop flights to US.

From asiaone website 26/11/07:

Malaysia Airlines announces record profits

Net profit of $262m for first 9 months to September is the best result of its 60-year history. -AFP

Mon, Nov 26, 2007
AFP

KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA Airlines on Monday announced a net profit of RM610 million (S$262 million) for the first nine months to September, in the best result of its 60-year history.

The national carrier, which embarked on a major turnaround plan in March last year, recorded the recovery after a net loss of RM258 million for the same period last year.

The result was the airline's 'highest profit in its 60-year history,' it said in a statement, crediting the figures to 'strong passenger demand and sustained yield improvements.'

The airline's last record was in 2004 when the carrier logged RM460 million in net profits for the full year.

'Even with the fourth quarter result still to be included, Malaysia Airlines has already surpassed the 2004 record,' it said.

Revenue for the airline for the nine months increased 15 percent to RM11.14 billion while net profits for the three months to September were up 52 per cent to RM364 million compared to last year.

It was the fifth consecutive quarter of net profits since the turnaround plan - which involved slashing routes and staffing levels - was introduced to stem heavy losses.

'For the year to date, we did show quite a big swing in our results,' said chief financial officer Azmil Zahruddin.

'The main driver in the swing has been the increase in revenue, particularly in our passenger revenue and our ability to contain costs,' he said.

However managing director Idris Jala warned of tougher times ahead amid high oil prices.

'The fourth quarter is seasonally the strongest and we are already experiencing very strong bookings,' he said.

'However our performance will be dampened by the impact of higher oil prices like all other airlines.'

Mr Jala said he intends to offset high fuel prices by focusing on reducing operating costs and adopting fuel conservation measures.

'Life is going to be very tough ... but I have tremendous confidence going forward,' he added.

He declined to give a profit target for next year. -- AFP

The Idris Jala way: Tackle corruption, cut costs to bring Malaysia Airlines back in the black
Leslie Lau
TODAY Online (published 24/11/07)

BY next Saturday, it will be two years to the day an unassuming, guitar-playing career Shell man, whom few people had heard of, took over the job no one wanted in Malaysia. And soon after taking over Malaysia Airlines (MAS) at a time when the country's national carrier was facing losses of more than RM1 billion ($428 million) in 2005 alone, he declared in what could have become famous last words that he would resign if the company did not show signs of recovery in two years.

His two years are up.

But there is little danger of him losing his job. If Mr Tony Fernandes of AirAsia has been in recent years the flamboyant champion of the Malaysian corporate scene, Mr Idris Jala has been arguably the saviour.

Last week, the MAS boss was talking about increasing his airline's fleet size, signalling a plan to add to its existing fleet of 89 aircraft, but no specifics have been announced yet.

Last month, he also announced the airline was on track to achieve net profits of between RM300 million and RM700 million this year, after nearly a decade of annual losses.

"We now have over RM3 billion cash in our war chest. This year, we strongly aspire to achieve the highest net profit in the company's history," said Mr Idris last month.

He added that the company would also unveil a new business plan in January to sustain profits for the next five years, by continuing to cut costs and lower fares.

It has been a remarkable turnaround by the airline and Mr Idris deserves the credit.

But MAS is not his first success.

In 2003, the career Shell employee took over as managing director of the loss-making Shell MDS, which operates a specialised fuel and chemical plant in Bintulu, Sarawak, his home state.

Mr Idris had started working in Shell in 1982 after getting a management degree locally. He later obtained a Masters in Industrial Relations from the University of Warwick. He has worked for Shell in Holland, Britain, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

"A colleague threw me a challenge that he would pay me RM100 if I could even make RM1 in three years," he told a gathering at his alma mater Universiti Sains Malaysia about his time in Shell MDS, soon after his appointment as MAS boss.

So for one-and-a-half-months, he locked his top executives at Shell MDS in a room every day and brainstormed a recovery plan. He told them they "could check out anytime they like, but they can never leave".

They came out with a plan. Six months later, Shell MDS returned to profit.

Perhaps, the man who is a Kelabit, one of the smallest tribes from the Sarawak Bario highlands with barely 10,000 people, inherited his work ethic and drive from his father Henry, who is the only Kelabit to have been honoured as Malaysia's teacher of the year.

He probably also learned some lessons from his time as chairman of Shell Sri Lanka.

Between 1998 and 2000, he was chairman and managing director for Shell in Sri Lanka. There, he would learn to balance the interests of profitability and keeping prices low, while dealing with the Tamil Tigers.

He frequently held discussions with the Tamil Tigers amid concerns that unrest would lead to attacks against Shell employees and its installations there.

Mr Idris' tactic in turning around financially-ailing companies like MAS has been simple.

Like his personal mantra, he has been telling MAS staff to "go for the impossible and anchor everything on the profit-and-loss statement".

He has also said in all seriousness that "once you have done your best, pray for divine intervention".

Divine help aside, Mr Idris has been preaching a simple back-to-basics formula in bringing the airline back into the black.

The airline he inherited in 2005 was one plagued by the extravagance of the previous management, and the folly of privatising the airline to Mr Tajuddin Ramli, once the poster boy of former PM Mahathir Mohamad's plans to create Malay business tycoons.

It was also an airline whose management acquired three paintings for RM1.5 million at a time when it was faced with huge financial losses.

Backed by PM Abdullah, Mr Idris started his simple plan to drive down costs and increase revenue.

The first thing he did was to sell the airline's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, a move which had some politicians calling for his head. Nevertheless, he received RM194 million for the skyscraper, which was much-needed cash for the airline.

It had been unthinkable for MAS to sell its own building. It was a matter of national pride, some politicians argued, but Mr Idris prevailed.

He then offered the biggest mutual separation or retrenchment scheme in Malaysian corporate history, spending RM500 million to lay off more than 2,000 employees.

Mr Idris also started an unprecedented whistle-blowing scheme, encouraging airline staff to come forward and report improprieties or corrupt practices.

This prompted some employees to report a number of malpractices. Although these were not significant financially, the move allowed the company to take action against errant staff and boost morale.

The airline also stopped flying to a number of routes in Europe which were unprofitable but which had been maintained for years to establish Malaysia's presence in certain countries.

By the end of last year, the losses started falling.

Mr Idris' management team managed to bring down staff cost by RM85 million, reduced advertising expenditure by RM124 million and cut in-flight costs by RM57 million.

The airline lost RM1.3 billion in 2005. Last year, the losses were down to RM136 million.

This year, he introduced more cost- cutting measures.

For example, instead of serving traditional in-flight meals, MAS started giving passengers light meal boxes on flights of less than three hours to save turnaround time and maximise flight efficiency.

Mr Idris says he is now modelling MAS on companies like Toyota, which have successfully maintained quality while reducing costs.

Said Mr Idris: "We will not behave like a low-cost carrier. We will always provide superior products and services to customers but we will drive down our cost so that we will be able to offer highly-competitive rates to passengers."

The dream he is now embarking on, the centrepiece of his new business plan, will be to turn MAS into a "five-star airline at low-cost carrier cost".

He unveils that plan in January. The Idris Jala revolution continues and Malaysians are eager to see if he can manage success as well as a turnaround plan.

The writer has been reporting in Malaysia for more than 15 years. He has worked in regional and international newspapers and TV stations.

PETALING JAYA, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) believes that AirAsia can serve its previously unprofitable routes instead of both airlines competing on the same routes.

"If they can make it work, that's good," MAS managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Idris Jala said after announcing the airline's results for its third quarter ended Sept 30, 2007, here today.

"I think the way we can work together is where we could not make money (such as) flying to Manchester, then I think AirAsia can fly to Manchester," he said.

According to Jala, another route that AirAsia should consider is Cairo.

"There is scope for collaboration. There is always scope for competition," he said.

"So let's work together. Those areas that we have agreed to work, we can work together, but then we also agree on the areas where we compete."

With regard to AirAsia Bhd, Jala said the two airlines could do things together from training to repairing aircraft.

"In fact, AirAsia X A330 aircraft was down and they sent it (to us) just a few weeks ago and we repaired it for them. And they sent a complimentary letter to say thank you very much, it was a great job. And they paid us and it was good," he said.

"(If) they didn't send it to us, they will send it to Singapore."

Jala said that there was nothing personal in the competition between MAS and AirAsia.

"This is all about business. I do believe that is the way it should be," he said.

-- BERNAMA:banana:

How's the meal box at MAS? Which routes are they serving meal box?

^^ Heard it's only for flights of under 3hrs.

Toulouse, France - Two important signing ceremonies will take place
(WAPA) - "ATR will attend the LIMA Air Show, Langkawi (Malaysia), -8 December 2007.

ATR will be present as exhibitor: stand 2C08.

On the occasion of the Air Show, ATR will hold 2 contract-signing ceremonies in its stand on Tuesday 4th December:

• At 12:40 pm: Signing ceremony with Malaysia Airlines in the presence of The Honourable Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak.

• At 3:00 pm: Signing ceremony with Berjaya Corporation.

ATR is well established in the Asia Pacific area with some 160 aircraft operated by some 30 carriers, and over 100 aircraft still to be delivered. The strong presence of ATR in the area includes also Sales Offices in Beijing, Singapore, Bangkok and Sydney, Support centres in Bangalore and Singapore, Training centres in Bangkok and Bangalore, and Warehouses in New Delhi, Singapore and Auckland.

Since the beginning of the year, ATR has received orders for 88 new aircraft, some of them not yet unveiled. Since the beginning of the programme, ATR has sold 925 aircraft (414 ATR-42s and 511 ATR-72s) and has delivered 746 (396 ATR-42s and 350 ATR-72s), thus posting a current backlog of 179 aircraft". (Avionews):banana:

^^What? Is MH buying ATR aircraft?? I presume it would be to replace the F50s. Any details of the purchase?

Malaysia Airlines fetes its loyal customers
Friday November 30, 2007
By GEETHA KRISHNAN
TheStar


http://www.thestar.com.my/archives/2007/11/30/central/m_18idris.jpg

In amiable company: (From left) Jala, his Datin Seri Ngan Yue and RA
Communications managing director Yeoh enjoying their kakuteru evening.

A GOOD dose of Japanese culture was injected into the Kakuteru Evening recently organised for Enrich Gold members.

The cocktail event was Malaysia Airlines’ (MAS) way of thanking Enrich Gold members for their loyalty to and their patronage of the airline. Around 150 members were invited to the exclusive event held at the Fukuya Restau-rant in Kuala Lumpur.


http://www.thestar.com.my/archives/2007/11/30/central/m_18trio.jpg

Good pals: (From left) Freelance writer Jasmine Abdullah,
Raja Nordiana and emcee for the evening Shireen Sidhu.


MAS chairman Datuk Dr Mohd Munir Abdul Majid, managing director/CEO Datuk Seri Idris Jala and corporate marketing and loyalty programme general manager Raja Datuk Nor-diana Zainal Shah were present to greet guests warmly.

The word kakuteru means cocktail in Japanese and the mood of the evening was reflected in the food, entertainment and even in the special mocktail concocted from green tea.

As guests mingled and touched base with one another, singer Noryn Aziz began her performance with the famous Japanese song, Sukiyaki. Two dancers dressed in traditional geisha attire accompanied her.

When Noryn took a brief break, harajuku dancers came out to woo the crowd.

“We chose a Japanese theme, not just because Malaysia Airlines flies there but more because Japan represents the delicate blend of old world culture and the new, loud and outrageous hence the contrast demonstrated by the harajuku dancers,” said Raja Nordiana.

Chefs from Fukuya had prepared a good spread of Japanese food at the buffet table. Guests headed out to the patio to enjoy the food but not before feasting their eyes on fashionable apparel and luggage modelled on the catwalk.

The event ended well into the night with music and dance.

MAS flights to Macau
Friday November 30, 2007
By SIMON KHOO
TheStar

THE recent inaugural flight to Macau by Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has received very encouraging response.

MAS managing director Datuk Seri Idris Jala said the company was contemplating spreading its wings to more destinations in China starting with the revival of the Macau route.


http://www.thestar.com.my/archives/2007/11/30/central/m_24idris.jpg

A token: Idris (centre) and Tunku Iskandar presenting goodie
bag passenger during MAS inaugural flight to Macau recently.


He said during the difficult times in 1999, the airlines had stopped flying into the province.

“Macau was one of the non-profitable routes and the management at that time decided to give it up.

“Today, Macau is top on our list and pose no risk to us,” he said, adding that the decision to fly back into Macau was done after a thorough study.

Recently, MAS relaunched their first direct flight into Macau with some 120 passengers on board, including tour agents, tour operators and media representatives.

Also present during the sending-off ceremony at KLIA was Macau Government Tourist Office representative in Malaysia Datuk Seri Tunku Iskandar Tunku Abdullah.

Idris said starting from this year, MAS would initiate plans to expand and widen its networking destinations.

“It is never easy to just fly into any destination but a thorough study must be carried out first like what we did in Macau.

“Another integral part is to ensure we have proper logistics to support business expansion,” he said, adding that they had ordered 20 new aircrafts, including for its subsidiary Firefly, to meet its objectives.

Idris said the future for MAS “looks good” and the airlines was in the midst of launching several new programmes to improve its services.

Frequent travellers are set to gain now that MAS was looking at more destinations in China and India to boost its position as one of Asia’s premier airlines.

Meanwhile, Tunku Iskandar said the return of MAS to Macau was timely.

Presently, MAS operates in Hong Kong, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Kunming and Xiamen.

Macau is the latest addition to the list, starting off with four weekly direct flights.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) will extend their code-sharing agreement to include domestic sectors within both countries from tomorrow.

Under the expansion pact, ANA will carry MAS' flight code, MH, on flights between Tokyo and Fukuoka, and Tokyo and Nagoya, while MAS will carry the ANA's flight code, NH, on flights between Kuala Lumpur and the Malaysian destinations of Langkawi, Kuching, Penang and Kota Kinabalu.

MAS and ANA signed their first code-share agreement in February 2004 on routes between Japan and Malaysia on a "block seat" arrangement basis where a pre-determined passenger seat inventory of MAS was marketed by ANA.

"ANA passengers will have the convenience of travelling to even more destinations in Malaysia -- including the ever popular resorts of Penang and Langkawi -- using just ANA's flight code and a single e-ticket," said ANA executive vice president (international relations), Keisuke Okada, in a joint MAS-ANA statement here today.

MAS managing director/chief executive officer, Datuk Seri Idris Jala, said the further enhancement of the code share agreement would strengthen the airline's hub-and-spoke business strategy to allow its customers access to many destinations in Japan.

"As both carriers provide seamless passenger connections to more domestic destinations in Japan and Malaysia, we are optimistic that our load factor on the Malaysia-Japan return routes will further improve and contribute to our bottom line," said Jala.

He said the strategy of developing hub-and-spoke was a crucial part of the national carrier Business Turnaround Plan.

"To date, we are seeing yield and load factor improvements on routes which we do hub-and-spoke," he said.

-- BERNAMA:banana:

Airbus in talks to sell more A380s to MAS

AIRBUS SAS, the world's biggest commercial planemaker, is in talks to sell more A380 superjumbo jets to Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS), Airbus chief operating officer John Leahy said yesterday.

Airbus expects MAS to confirm an existing order of six A380s in 30 to 60 days, Leahy told reporters in Langkawi.

The agreement will include compensation to MAS for delays in the delivery of the plane, he said. - Bloomberg

MAS engineering on track for RM1b revenue
by Yantoultra Ngui Yichen, 06 Dec 2007 11:48 AM
THEEDGEDAILY

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Airline System Bhd’s (MAS) engineering division is on track to achieve more than RM1 billion in revenue from its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business by 2010.

Half of the revenue would be derived from the provision of MRO services to third parties, MAS said in a statement issued from Langkawi after it had signed three memoranda of understanding and a service agreement with three foreign airlines.

The first MoU was with Saudi Arabian Airlines where both carriers would support each other in several operational areas including aircraft and line maintenance, ground handling, component repair overhaul, aircraft on ground and training.

The second MoU was to set up a joint venture engineering and maintenance facility in Indonesia with PT Eka Sari Lorena Airlines (Lorena Air). They also signed an engineering services agreement with Lorena Air to provide MRO services for the aircraft.

MAS also signed an MoU with Iceland-based carrier Air Atlanta Icelandic to provide long-term maintenance of the latter’s fleet of aircraft.

The signing ceremony was held at the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition (Lima) 2007 yesterday in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy and MAS executive director and chief financial officer Tengku Azmil Zahruddin.

Saudi Arabian Airlines was represented by its vice president for technical services Ali A Milaat while Lorena Air was represented by president director Eka Sari Lorena Surbakti. Air Atlanta Icelandic was represented by its contract manager Orm Johansson.

MAS senior general manager of engineering and maintenance, Mohd Roslan Ismail, said the MoUs were another significant achievement in MAS aggressive drive to market its excellent technical and ground support expertise to the growing air travel industry.

“It is also testimony to the airline’s contribution in expanding business opportunities towards increasing national, regional and global competitiveness of the country’s MRO sector as envisioned in the objectives of the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT),” he said.

Roslan added that MAS was pleased with the deals signed yesterday as they reflected the confidence in the quality of its deliverables and mutual co-operation in the MRO business by its customers from Europe, Middle East and the Asean region.

He said MAS had numerous international accreditations and recognitions for its MRO capabilities which it had developed since 1972.

MAS’ engineering and maintenance division has six fully equipped hangars in the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Subang. It manages MAS fleet of more than 100 aircraft including Boeing 747-400, B777-200, Airbus 330-200/300 and B737-400.

see bn ahh

todo nusvos proyectos stan o.O

^^MOD, PLEASE BAND THIS IDIOT!

HE'S SPAMMING

who are all these people???and what language is that??french??

MAS raise KL- Delhi flights to 9 a week

By IANS
Wednesday December 12, 03:17 PM
New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS) Malaysia Airlines will operate two additional flights a week between Delhi and Kuala Lumpur from next month to take to 32 the number of flights it operates from India.

The new flights are effective Jan 7 and will raise to nine the number of flights the airline operates from the Indian capital.


The new flights will be operational every Monday and Saturday at 12.15 pm, a Malaysia Airline release said.


With this addition, the total seat capacity from New Delhi will be 2,549 from the earlier 2,030, comprising 378 seats in business class and 2,171 in economy class.


The additional flights will be serviced by Airbus A-330-300 and A-330-200 aircraft.


'Malaysia Airlines is steadily augmenting its India market operations,' Christopher Yek, its regional manager for South Asia, said.


'Delhi is the third successive gateway from where the airline has scaled its operation in immediate progression. This flight enhancement is in sync with the growing passenger demands, with Delhi being the main gateway catering to the other feeder markets of north India.


'Strategically, the airline is enhancing its presence in India market under its business turnaround plan. The year 2008 will foresee more positive developments with new tactical campaigns and on-line initiatives,' Yek added.


Malaysia Airlines has already increased its flight frequency from the south Indian gateways of Chennai and Bangalore.


The airline has also launched its travel arm Golden Holidays. Targeting the India leisure travel segment, Golden Holidays is being promoted and marketed by Kuoni Holidays.


Apart from the enhanced flights from New Delhi, the airline also offers nine flights a week from Chennai, seven from Mumbai, four from Bangalore and three from Hyderabad.


Boosted by strong passenger demand and sustained yield improvement, Malaysia Airlines, under its business turnaround plan, reported a record net profit of 364 million ringits ($110 million or Rs.4.3 billion) for the third quarter of the current fiscal, up by 52 percent over the previous year.


This marks the airline's fifth successive quarter of net profit since the launch of the plan in February 2006.


Malaysia Airlines' net profit from January to September 2007 has soared to 610 million ringits, the highest in its 60-year history. Its previous best was 460 million ringits in 2004.

India's KINGFISHER recently attains the 5-star status from Skytrax, does anybody fly with this airline b4? it's pretty impressive since they bit most expectation for THAI to get the status...

^^ Dalam skytrax forum pun semua orang rate Kingfisher 5-star. Bajet elain pulak tu.

India's KINGFISHER recently attains the 5-star status from Skytrax, does anybody fly with this airline b4? it's pretty impressive since they bit most expectation for THAI to get the status...

Isn't Kingfisher a budget-ish airline? How did a budget airline get 5-star status??

http://www.airlinequality.com/images/0-0209-5strb.gif MAKES A "5 STAR" AIRLINE


With the latest Airline Ranking review in progress, we receive countless e-mails asking why one particular airline deserves a 5 Star ranking - or other rating category.


The question is poignant when one views the ranking for the airlines, and realise that none of them achieve top tier levels for their Economy cabin standards - seating in particular being an item where none of the above achieve near the top quality rating.


Surely "straight" 5's are required ?

No. Were that the case, we would effectively not be able to create a 5 Star listing within the industry.


There are some airlines with excellent Premium product / service standards - others with higher quality Economy cabin standards, but these do not meet in terms of achieving a straight set of 5 Star rankings.


Then there are those airlines where the product levels may not reach 5 Star status - but staff service quality is up at the 5 Star level. The central factor of staff service achieves a very high Quality ranking.


Thus, the Ranking Agenda requires a careful balance of the different items under evaluation.


Is every ranking item shown?

No. We have tried to extract some "key" points used for an airline's Star Ranking, and used these to illustrate each airline's Ranking page.


The actual Ranking Agenda covers several hundred different areas of product and service, and the results of each Ranking is available only to the individual airline.


What about the nationality bias?

This is not an issue, although there will always be some who insist that one nationality achieves a better service standard than others.


In particular, we find that some US citizens are critical of lower rankings applied to American carriers, and appear to have a much higher perception of their countries airline standards when contrasted with say a European or Asian passenger.


However, when assessing service and product quality, the first approach is centred on the "international" style applied, and this is then tempered with the way other nationalities are handled - how does an Arabic customer with different expectations to say a Texan passenger, perceive the final standards of product and service delivered.


There can be great strength in retaining the "national" identity and core values for each airline - but only if this is retained in such a way that a truly international, and more tolerant approach can be applied.

Isn't Kingfisher a budget-ish airline? How did a budget airline get 5-star status??

KINGFISHER is a full-serviced premium airline...currently only flies within India domestic destinations (but i think i've seen one in KLIA:dunno:)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4e/Kingfisher_airlines_a380.jpg

KINGFISHER is a full-serviced premium airline...currently only flies within India domestic destinations (but i think i've seen one in KLIA:dunno:)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4e/Kingfisher_airlines_a380.jpg


Kingfisher has plans to fly KUL

What? Kingfisher's got an order on the A380?

KINGFISHER is a full-serviced premium airline...currently only flies within India domestic destinations (but i think i've seen one in KLIA:dunno:)

Oh. Good to know. Somehow I thought they were budget category, so they're more like Eva-private company challenging gov players. Good for them!

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/4870/dscn7619op4vz5.jpg

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/4870/dscn7619op4vz5.jpg

^^ Is it the meal box being served now in regional flights? What are the things inside the box ? i saw some sandwiches ! :)

wow..even the wrapping quality looks impressive :D

just some refreshments nothing so delicious. My sis took it on a flight to hong kong.

The looks impressive but they are missing an "h" on the word "sandwich". Also, I'm surprised that it is served on international routes. I've been expecting it to be only for domestic or ASEAN flights. Hopefully it is as good as the traditional hot meals so that it won't lose customers.

Sandwich is spelt "sandwic" in Malay, which is the language of Malaysia, the country where the airline is from.

Sandwich is spelt "sandwic" in Malay, which is the language of Malaysia, the country where the airline is from.

foreigners might get the wrong idea..~~

Select 3000i Portable Media Player
Developed by e.Digital Corporation, Select 3000i Portable Media Player is an inflight entertainment system provided to Malaysia Airlines' Business Class passengers on selected regional, semi-long haul A330-300 aircraft on North and South Asia routes. Passengers can choose over 100 hours of on-demand movies, TV shows, and sports. The system is similarly used by Lufthansa, Air France-KLM and Alitalia.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/66/Slc300i.jpg/800px-Slc300i.jpg

Malaysia Airlines: Corporate Video

ISEfIUc_kow

Malaysia Airlines: (2007) This is MH

HSOjeTkgx0M

Flying high once more
TheStar
By ANDREW SIA


Malaysia Airlines has finally pulled itself out of a long tailspin of loss and mismanagement, in time to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its beginnings as Malayan Airways Limited.

From the “winged tiger” of Malayan Airways Limited (MAL) in 1947 through to the soaring Kelantanese wau kite emblem of today, it has been a momentous 60-year journey for Malaysia Airlines (MAS). And it has endured, for better or worse, as a national symbol through its triumphs and tragedies.





http://thestar.com.my/archives/2007/12/9/lifefocus/f_4bernard.jpg

Bernard Thomazios recalls how MAS used to
reduce costs by making its own nasi lemak.





After the break-up with Singapore in 1972, MAS had to rebuild virtually from scratch. By 1994, it had established itself as a respected and profitable international airline. And then it was privatised to tycoon Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli.

The airline incurred massive losses and six years later, the Government had to renation-

alise it. Even then, tales of mismanagement continued until MAS was on the brink of collapse in 2005 with losses of RM1.3 bil.

It was then that Datuk Seri Idris Jala was appointed as the CEO. And what a difference two years have made – the airline posted its highest ever profits of RM610mil this year.

How was the rabbit pulled out of the hat? But it was no sleight of hand, just a solid demonstration of what Malaysians can achieve with proper leadership, hard work and thrift.

What a ride, or rather flight, MAS has been.





http://thestar.com.my/archives/2007/12/9/lifefocus/f_4lee.jpg

Lee Shu Poh says, “We developed a culture of thriftiness.”





The early years

Malayan Airways began modestly in 1947 with propeller planes such as 21-seater DC3's with flights from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Medan and Saigon. By the early 1960s, jets such as the Comets were added.

Two name changes followed, first to Malaysian Airways Ltd in 1963, and then to Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA) in 1967. The latter was equally owned by both countries and was highly profitable, with destinations including London, Rome, Bombay, Taipei and Perth.

Yet, the two countries had different priorities.

“Singapore was an island and wanted to promote itself through international flights while Malaysia was more interested in domestic services,” Bernard Thomazios, 65, explains in an interview. He was seconded from the Transport Ministry to MAS in 1971 and retired 21 years later as its deputy managing director.

The differences became so bad that the directors were quarrelling like “cats and dogs”, recounts one-time MSA chairman, Robert Kuok in Airborne, the MAS 45th anniversary book published in 1992.

Finally, Malaysia and Singapore agreed to split the airline. According to Airborne, Malaysian Airline System (MAS) inherited 12 smaller aircraft while the five larger Boeing 707s went to Singapore Airlines (SIA). More crucially, Singapore inherited the rights from MSA to fly international routes. In later years, this division was criticised, by former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad and others, as a raw deal from Singapore.

“We only took the 50-seater Fokkers,” says Thomazios. “As for the larger planes, we told Singapore we didn’t want them. We did not have the traffic and were not sure we could translate the planes into profits.”

Captain Hassan Ahmad remembers how, just before the split, the Government sent people to persuade Malaysian staff of MSA (based in Singapore) to return to KL.

“In their briefings, it was clear they (the government officials) were more interested in domestic flights. They didn’t even talk of regional routes. It was a mindset. I realised it was no way to plan a national airline but we were just employees,” says Hassan, 71, the first Malay civil aviation captain who retired as director of flight operations in 1992.

“We even lost the KL to Bangkok route,” recalls Thomazios. “The Thais stopped us from flying because they said it was a Singapore to KL to Bangkok route (belonging to SIA).”

Take off

So were we simply outmanoeuvred due to inexperience and lack of know-how?

“The head office as well as the management, engineering and financial people were all in Singapore,” reflects Lee Shu Poh, 77. He joined MAL in 1949 as clerical staff and worked all the way up to become MAS operations manager (1982-88).

“In 1972, I was the most senior Malaysian at MSA in Singapore. I was also at the Mandarin Hotel briefings to persuade other Malaysians to return. But most chose to remain in Singapore (as they felt they had better prospects).”





http://thestar.com.my/archives/2007/12/9/lifefocus/f_4airhostess.jpg

Malayan Airways crew of the 1960s.





Despite the handicaps, MAS soldiered on, investing in engineering facilities and six new Boeing 737s. The board of directors was made up mostly of civil servants and, as Airborne recalls, “few believed that this motley team ... could actually create and run a viable commercial airline.”

“We had to buy tables and chairs for our first office,” recounts Thomazios, which comprised two rented floors of the Police Co-op building with two telephone lines.

Airborne quotes Tan Sri Saw Huat Lye, the first chief operating officer (1972–1982):“We were the underdogs.... We had to do everything ourselves, design our logo, decide on toothpicks, learn to create a flight kitchen ... our families did not see us for almost two years. Our home was our office. Every Sunday, every holiday, we worked.”

The slogging paid off. With help from Qantas experts, MAS took off three months ahead of schedule. On Oct 1, 1972, the pre-dawn darkness of Subang Airport’s rubber tree-lined road was lit up by many, many cars and buses carrying VIPs and ordinary citizens eager to watch history unfold.

The airfield became a spectacular stage featuring the new aircraft. At 5.30am, to the beat of rebana drums and rapturous applause, Deputy Prime Minister, Tun Dr Ismail, launched the first MAS flight to Singapore.

Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman, the then company secretary, says in Airborne, “There were teething problems, delays, etc. It was to be expected.... But it was not long before Malaysians were able to acquire the necessary skills to operate the airline smoothly.”

However, MAS had to negotiate all its international routes afresh and Singapore’s head start as an international aviation hub was a hampering factor.




http://thestar.com.my/archives/2007/12/9/lifefocus/f_4crew.jpg

MAS crew of the 1970s




For instance, on the lucrative “kangaroo route” from Australia to London via South-East Asia, both SIA and MAS were fighting for market share. Thomazios, who spent “half his life” negotiating flight rights, explains:

“Qantas was only operating two KL-Sydney flights a week, so the rules said we were limited to two as well. Why should Qantas fly more when they were already making money from their seven Sydney-Singapore flights (and on to London)?”

“To get two extra flights to Sydney for MAS, I even had to offer Qantas half of the flight revenues. But it was okay because we could take (extra) passengers from Sydney and fly them on the more lucrative KL to London route.”

Making money

MAS managed to be profitable in all its first 20 years, except for 1981. It could even overcome the oil “price shock” (when it quadrupled!) of 1973.

“We watched every cost. Growth had to be planned and steady,” explains Thomazios. “You can’t say, 'Oh SIA is so profitable because they have 747s'. Doesn’t mean we go and order 10 747s also. Planes have to fit passenger demand. Otherwise, you leave them on the ground and you lose money every day.”

Lee adds, “It’s no point running a Rolls Royce when passengers will only pay Proton taxi fares.




http://thestar.com.my/archives/2007/12/9/lifefocus/f_4lgoo.jpg

Advertisement announcing the birth of MAS in 1972.




“We developed a culture of thriftiness. Buy what you need, not what you want.”

He continues to live by that culture. He shows me his RM45 Casio digital watch and 20-year-old leather shoes.

“They work fine. Why should we show off? Does the watch say who I am?”

Thomazios recalls that MAS kept costs down by doing everything in-house.

“We could make nasi lemak for only 10 or 20 sen per pax. And we sold it to other airlines for RM1 each!”

But other considerations also came into play that overturned good business practice: “The Los Angeles route was glamorous but we were losing our pants. We tried to anticipate growth but sometimes, because of diplomatic relations, we had to do 'national service’ and set up new flights.”




http://thestar.com.my/archives/2007/12/9/lifefocus/f_4stewardess.jpg

These breezy sarong kebaya uniforms appeared in the 1980s and,
with slight modifications, are still worn today.




What about long standing complaints (especially from Sabah and Sarawak) that MAS should have had cheaper air fares to fulfil its objectives of “promoting national integration” and boosting tourism?

“Well, we did offer cheaper flights at night and for groups,” he says.

However, one much appreciated part of MAS was the (government-subsidised) Rural Air Service using small Twin Otter 12-seater aircraft that provided a critical link to isolated villages such as Bario, Long Semado and Ba Kelalan deep in the interior of Sabah and Sarawak.

“Everybody will be waiting for the plane next to the airstrip, as if the ice cream man was coming,” recalls Lee.

In fact, one of those who waited for the plane at Bario was a boy named Idris Jala.





http://thestar.com.my/archives/2007/12/9/lifefocus/f_4mas.jpg

Lavish first class service in the early 1990s.





Growth and decay

MAS continued to grow in strength from year to year in terms of routes, aircraft and staff. There were hiccups such as the 1977 crash (all 100 on board were killed) at Tanjung Kupang, Johor, (the hijacker shot the pilots) and the big strike of 1979 (which ended after 18 people were arrested under the ISA).

Nevertheless, by 1985 MAS was so self-assured that it could go for a stock exchange listing. Aziz, who was CEO from 1982–1991, proudly pointed out that 90% of flights departed on time (the rest were 15 minutes late) while profits had soared to RM132mil.

The shares, offered at RM1.80 each, shot up way past RM5 upon listing, a resounding public vote of confidence in the company. The additional funds were invested in expansion plans and by 1990, profits rose to RM224mil.

The company had grown from 900 people in 1972 to 19,000 in 1992, serving over 9 million passengers.

The then chairman, Tan Sri Zain Azraai, said, “We can take pride that no major allegation of financial wrong-doing has ever been made. (Besides that) I also mean intellectual honesty. Officers in MAS, in submitting their views, should not tailor them to what they think their seniors want.”

Zain’s words unwittingly forewarned of what was to come. In 1994, the Government privatised its controlling stake in MAS to tycoon Tajudin Ramli. By 2000, the airline was tottering under the weight of RM9.5bil in debt after a fourth straight year of losses.

The culture of thrift of the early years had been replaced by a spending spree. The MAS Executive Staff Association (Mesa) told the press in 2002, that third parties with “personal links” to certain corporate people were given lucrative contracts to handle services like air cargo, catering, insurance underwriting, a yacht business, off-shore aircraft leasing and IT.

Mesa claimed that the MASKargo scandal was just the “tip of the iceberg”.

The Government renationalised the airline in a highly controversial purchase of Tajudin’s MAS shares at RM8 each, though the market price was just RM3.62.

Tan Sri Azizan Zainul Abidin, the new chairman, frankly disclosed then that MAS’ culture had “fostered abuse, the plunder of the company for personal gains, high cost and inefficiency.” He promised new procedures to plug the “rampant leakages and stop the haemorrhage to protect it from predators.”

In 2002, the burdens of aircraft depreciation, various debts and unprofitable domestic routes were transferred to Penerbangan Malaysia Bhd, the Government’s airline holding company. MAS even lodged a police report against Tajudin for improprieties in MASKargo which had caused the airline to lose some RM1bil.

Even then the haemorrhage continued, and Dewan Negara senators queried the purchase of Botero paintings and asked why a foreign “consultant” was being paid RM7,525 a day.In the first nine months of 2005 alone, the losses were RM1.3bil. So what was to be done?

New helmsman

Enter Idris Jala, then a senior executive with Shell Malaysia, as CEO in December 2005. Relatively unknown, his appointment was somewhat of a surprise and he faced a monumental task: an overstaffed and demoralised MAS that was close to running on empty with the majority of its routes making losses.

Undaunted, he got to work. (See The Idris Jala way on SM6). When a local business magazine asked him last year how “MAS culture” had changed, he answered, “You change culture by doing.”

But some things may not be perfect yet. In mid-2007, there were rumours of employee sabotage apparently over alleged favouritism in giving out incentives, resulting in many missed and delayed flights (even Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy was affected).

Idris' solution to tackling such residual problems was to have an open door policy and be transparent.

“There is no accountability without transparency,” explains Idris.

And it has gone down well. Says MAS staff trainer Faridah Abdul Rahman; “It’s fantastic. The CEO is online. He gives out his email address and staff can write to him directly. And he replies!”

“It’s the first time it has happened in the company,” testifies Alice Nazareth, a marketing executive, who joined MAS as a stewardess back in 1973.

Another factor is the CEO’s humility.

Mazlan Mokty, a senior steward, says, “When we see him, he doesn’t like us to call him Datuk. He prefers just plain Idris.”

Idris's upbringing must surely play a part. He grew up in the Bario Highlands of Sarawak’s interior, the home of the staunchly Christian Kelabit people.

There were (and still are) no roads and it took more than a week to reach Miri by jungle trail and riverboat.

“My father was a teacher and I followed him on jungle treks for days sometimes. Because of these hardships, we did not take things lightly. As a student I knew that if I wanted to see the world beyond our hills, I had to study hard.

“When the MAS Rural Air Service started flying to Bario, it was like a gift from heaven. If people were not working or at church, they would go to the little airstrip to wait for the plane. I grew up totally loyal to MAS.”

That steadfast belief in the organisation and its people has been rewarded. When Idris announced the turnaround plan in 2005, the business community was not convinced. Now just two years on, MAS has earned the highest profits in its history.

From a morass of low morale and abysmal losses, MAS' makeover – based on accountability, transparency, hard work and thrift –has been nothing short of magical.

The celebration of its 60th Anniversary has shown how Malaysians can aspire to greatness.

omg, wat a great revealing story of MAS. I never knew all these, shame on me.
anyway, is the MAS website server down or what? i couldn't access to their website since last week.:( I need to book flight back to Malaysia this summer.

anyone remember tanjung kupang tragedy?

omg, wat a great revealing story of MAS. I never knew all these, shame on me.
anyway, is the MAS website server down or what? i couldn't access to their website since last week.:( I need to book flight back to Malaysia this summer.

malaysia always has a very sweet success story...only its own people doesn't appreciate it....:)

hahahaha...sweet la sangat, padahal dalam mas tu macam macam staff sendiri komplen....hutang gaji aku rm 8 ribu lebih pun tak bayar lagi....yang indah2 mesti la masuk dalam paper...yang buruk2 mana nak masuk...habih la jatuh imej kerajaan...

Pilot mas kena ISA dulu, sebab nak piket mintak naik gaji je....takde pulak cerita detail....

MAS a success story? recently lahh...but dont you guys ever forget that MAS also ate your tax money when the kerajaan bought back the share at RM 8 while the actual value at that time only RM 3-ish...very successful...

Regarding TR (Sell Comm). How can you even think the period under him was sweet successful... Look at the bloody damage that fool created and you even consider the company as a sweet successful as "still ok" Perhaps you have not been drinking but are on happy drugs. What an insane statement.

MAS has just come out of years of substantial debt. In fact the taxpayers will be paying for the mismanagement monetary costs for decades because the losses of billions were merely set aside in the asset unbundling and set up of PNB as the lessor, in reality the actual losses were absorbed into future governmental budgets.

So now after the company is struggling out of the red into the black suddenly someone declared it as sweet and successful based on a weekend section of the star...a rm 610 million...yeah successful perhaps...at least something to be talk about.. a glimpse of hope...hopefully...

Not bad eh for a jakun, sumpit, orang asli MD...

mulut manusia mmg suka komplen....mana larat Idris Jalan nak dengar sekor2...

tu laa..tambah2 mulut cabul kutuk orang tua tu...kesiannn dia...

tu lah pasal...aku dah insap dah...kesian gak aku tgk dia...:lol:

malaysia always has a very sweet success story...only its own people doesn't appreciate it....:)

why? :)

Malaysia Airlines Gets ATW's Phoenix Award

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines has been awarded the Phoenix Award by Penton Media's Air Transport World in recognition of the airline's transformation.

Air Transport World is the leading monthly magazine covering the global airline industry.

Malaysia Airlines managed to turn itself around through a restructuring programme that contributed to record earnings for the first nine months of 2007, without affecting its reputation for excellent service.

"We are delighted to be presented with this award which recognises the hard work of our employees, all of whom have contributed their hands and hearts in a collective effort to turn the airline around," said Malaysia Airlines' managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Idris Jala.

"This award will not be possible without them, and the support we have received from the Malaysian government and business partners," he said in a statement today.

He also said that the airline will transform itself into a five-star value carrier to deliver the highest quality services at affordable prices following the completion of its business turnaround a year ahead of schedule.

-- BERNAMA

why? :)

yes, instead of talking good things about Malaysia, we rather talk negatively on our own country....sad:ohno:

why? :)

Arkdriver has answered.

hahahaha...sweet la sangat, padahal dalam mas tu macam macam staff sendiri komplen....hutang gaji aku rm 8 ribu lebih pun tak bayar lagi....yang indah2 mesti la masuk dalam paper...yang buruk2 mana nak masuk...habih la jatuh imej kerajaan...

Pilot mas kena ISA dulu, sebab nak piket mintak naik gaji je....takde pulak cerita detail....

MAS a success story? recently lahh...but dont you guys ever forget that MAS also ate your tax money when the kerajaan bought back the share at RM 8 while the actual value at that time only RM 3-ish...very successful...

Regarding TR (Sell Comm). How can you even think the period under him was sweet successful... Look at the bloody damage that fool created and you even consider the company as a sweet successful as "still ok" Perhaps you have not been drinking but are on happy drugs. What an insane statement.

MAS has just come out of years of substantial debt. In fact the taxpayers will be paying for the mismanagement monetary costs for decades because the losses of billions were merely set aside in the asset unbundling and set up of PNB as the lessor, in reality the actual losses were absorbed into future governmental budgets.

So now after the company is struggling out of the red into the black suddenly someone declared it as sweet and successful based on a weekend section of the star...a rm 610 million...yeah successful perhaps...at least something to be talk about.. a glimpse of hope...hopefully...

Not bad eh for a jakun, sumpit, orang asli MD...

but idris memang boleh. respect!

Hassle-Free Travel for Mas Passengers Opting for Web Check-in

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 Asia Pulse - Malaysia Airlines (KLSE:3786) passengers can say goodbye to long queues at check-in counters when they opt for the national carrier's web check-in service that will come online from next month.

Web check-in is just a fraction of what's in store under the International Air Transport Association (IATA)'s passenger self-service initiative, which was conceived in response to consumer demand for greater convenience.

"Customers want speed, convenience and control that self-service offers and airlines want to use technology to offer new options as they improve service and cut costs," said IATA's programme director of business simplification, Phillippe Bruyere.

To Malaysia Airlines, online check epitomises the importance of embracing today's technological advancements towards ensuring its passengers enjoy seamless and hassle-free services.

"This facility will provide passengers another self-service capability to check in and select seats through the Internet 24 hours before flight departure, doing away with the rush and long queues at the airport," said Malaysia Airlines' senior general manager of transition management, Dr Amin Khan.

"Soon, a Malaysia Airlines passenger will be able to do everything from flight bookings to printing the boarding pass without even having to leave home," he said recently.

Amin also said that the airline had introduced self-service kiosks for its domestic travel passengers checking in at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

Pointing to air passengers' appetite for more self-service options, Bruyere said at a media briefing in Geneva last month that an IATA survey showed that 54 per cent of respondents wanted more self-service options.

"And the 21 per cent that are undecided make the potential implementation footprint even larger," he said.

Noting the rapid growth in online check-in, Bruyere said this was enabled by the airline industry's conversion to bar-coded boarding passes (BCBP). Up to December 2007, 93 airlines are BCBP-capable.

BCBP, which also allows check-in using a common use self-service kiosk (another passenger self-service initiative), uses the IATA industry standard 2D bar codes.

IATA has targeted airlines to be 100 per cent BCBP-capable by 2008 and by 2010, it wants airlines to have full usage of BCBP.

Bruyere said IATA's survey also showed that passengers prefer web check-in compared with kiosk check-in.

The survey found that passenger preference for web check-in surpassed desk check-in in Europe and the Americas.

In Asia Pacific, 30 per cent of the respondents favoured printing their boarding passes at home/office compared with 15 per cent at check-in kiosk.

Bruyere said passengers wanted IATA to take passenger self-service to the next level its survey found that 54 per cent of the respondents wanted more self-service options.

IATA has identified the mobile phone as another check-in alternative.

"As you may know, we've recently developed standards to support roll-out for mobile phone check-in," Bruyere said, adding that mobile phone check-in was now availabile at a small number of carriers.

"Given the growing use of mobile phones, it is an option that the industry has to prepare for. So, we will promote the use of the IATA standard 2D bar codes on mobile phones for check-in," he said.

As for what will be in store for 2008, Bruyere said IATA will launch a series of initiatives to deliver a set of self-services solutions that enable passengers to manage all aspects of the departure, transfer and arrival processes.

Other passenger self-service initiatives identified by IATA are projects in baggage processing with the association developing standards for self-tagging and usage of common bag drop-off point and documentation checks with IATA providing passengers the ability to use a self-service option when processing passports and identity cards.:)

The next project relates to irregular operations, applicable when flights are delayed or cancelled. IATA will develop a process and standards to support self-service options where passenger can choose onward travel options, get new ticket details, and obtain boarding passes or vouchers.

The remaining project covers post flight with IATA developing processes and standards for self-boarding gates and for registration of baggage mishandling on a self-service machine.

IATA is an international trade body, created about 60 years ago by a group of airlines. It currently represents about 240 airlines comprising 94 per cent scheduled international air traffic.

(BERNAMA-OANA)

yes, instead of talking good things about Malaysia, we rather talk negatively on our own country....sad:ohno:

Arkdriver has answered.

Oh Now I understand :pet: (:blahblah:) ...

Thursday January 31, 2008


MAS can meet 5-star value carrier goal

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) believes it can achieve its ambition of becoming a “five-star value carrier” (FSVC) under its new business transformation plan (BTP) by making key changes to how it services its customers.

The national carrier will draw from the experiences of three international airlines, change the type of food it serves passengers and place more emphasis on Internet booking to become an FSVC.

MAS also believes the low labour cost in Malaysia, its reputation as a five-star airline and its ability to venture into maintenance, repair and overhaul business would give it a better starting advantage in becoming an FSVC.

“We will offer products and services that provide our customers with more value compared with those of our competitors,'' MAS said in its BTP. “Our target customers are those who want service excellence and quality, and do not make decisions solely on price.''

To become an FSVC, MAS intends to offer the products and services of a five-star airline but reduce costs so it can offer low fares as a value carrier.

MAS has forecast losing RM650mil to RM1bil in 2012 if it does not transform itself into an FSVC. It sees the operating conditions being hit by overcapacity and liberalisation if no changes are made to its business model.

While delivering such kind of value to travellers, MAS said that had to be matched by choices on how money was spent to ensure a decent return on every ringgit spent.

For example, MAS said modifications to hot meals on long-haul sectors had shown a preference for hot meals that cost less to prepare.

MAS said the light meal boxes served on short-haul sectors had also found a huge degree of acceptance among passengers and such boxed meals enable the airline to increase in-flight service efficiency, improve aircraft turnaround time and reduce overall in-flight costs.

“Sale of air tickets via the Internet plays a critical role in realising FSVC,'' MAS said, adding that together with the MAS Passenger Services System, operating costs would be substantially reduced.

MAS also said the concepts exposed in turning the airline into an FSVC had been successfully implemented in other international airlines.

MAS said Ireland's Aer Lingus had managed to dramatically cut costs by focusing on Internet sales, eliminating the business class and free food on short-haul flights and focusing on productivity to compete with low-cost carriers.

“Air Canada has been very vocal about how its model, focused on low costs and significant sources of protected revenue, delivers superior profit,'' MAS said.

The third example used by MAS was Chile's LAN, a regional airline that increased short-haul aircraft utilisation and the percentage of direct flights to nearly double its operating margin.

“MAS has the advantage of being in a better starting position than any of these carriers,'' the carrier said in its plan.

If MAS successfully transforms itself, it is projecting a net profit of between RM1.5bil to RM3bil by 2012.


Model after Aer Lingus, Air Canada and LAN instead of SIA, Cathay pacific, Emirates and Qatar airways?

Model after Aer Lingus, Air Canada and LAN instead of SIA, Cathay pacific, Emirates and Qatar airways?

in term of cost cutting: Aer Lingus, Air Canada and LAN...but for services: Cathay, SIA, Emirates and Qatar..., remember, MAS is still a 5-star airline! (while Emitares not)

in term of cost cutting: Aer Lingus, Air Canada and LAN...but for services: Cathay, SIA, Emirates and Qatar..., remember, MAS is still a 5-star airline! (while Emitares not)


The best combination is to have the same or better products than SIA, Cathay, Qatar and other 5 star airlines but at a low cost model. I guess that's difficult.

Top airlines are hiring world class chefs to prepare meals for first class and business class passengers.

They need to maintain the quality and quantity of their in flight meals. People fly MAS for the service and food (satay). They cannot just rely on providing the best inflight service.

Don't cut cost when it comes to products and services.

plenty of mas news recently:

MAS exploring new routes to expand network (http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/1/31/business/20184098&sec=business)

MAS can meet 5-star value carrier goal (http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/1/31/business/20185967&sec=business)

not forgeting few millions of tickets up to 70% discount! :banana:

January 31, 2008 12:44 PM

MAS Aims Higher Profit Of RM2-RM3 Billion In 2012


SEPANG, Jan 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airline System Bhd (MAS) today launched its five-year Business Transformation Plan (BTP 2) which will position it well to chalk up higher profits of up to RM2-RM3 billion per annum by 2012, managing director, Datuk Idris Jala said.

He said that there are five steps that would propel the company into achieving sustainable profitability.

A major step would be for MAS to continue to maintain five-star quality products and services, lower costs, competitive fares, increase customers and revenue as well as grow its network and build capacity.

"Our cost challenge is to reduce our system-wide unit costs by 20 percent from the current 17.5 sen-ASK down to 14 sen-ASK, which enables us to achieve a break even load factor of 60-65 percent," he said in a statement issued in conjunction with the launching of MAS BTP 2, here today.

"Only with the break even load factor of 60-65 percent can MAS grow its network," he said.

Another would be MAS's revenue management practices including the opening of storefronts such as allowing more agents to sell MAS tickets, the realigment of fares and tighter iventory control, all of which are expected to generate an annual revenue increment of RM550 million to RM700 million.

MAS will also have project MOSAIC (MAS Overall Strategic Alliance Integration Concept), expecting the maximum value from the airline's hub and spoke network bill over the period of 2005-2007.

Project MOSAIC is projected to provide incremental revenue of between RM70 and RM100 million.

"We are very excited about the project, we are currently exploring breaking new ground. We will announce this when details are finalised," Idris Jala said.

He said that the BTP2 was necessary in view of the challenges brought on by price reductions with the expected increase in capacity as well as all-time high crude oil prices.

"Unless we take drastic action, MAS will hit a wall and sail badly.

"We try to forecast on what will happen to our financial results based on a number of reasonable business assumptions and revenue scenario. Experience demostrates that along with the declining industry profitability and without business transformation, MAS tends to lose between RM650 million to as high as RM1 billion in 2012.

"This will place us squarely back to where we started in 2005," he said.

-- BERNAMA

The best combination is to have the same or better products than SIA, Cathay, Qatar and other 5 star airlines but at a low cost model. I guess that's difficult.

Top airlines are hiring world class chefs to prepare meals for first class and business class passengers.

They need to maintain the quality and quantity of their in flight meals. People fly MAS for the service and food (satay). They cannot just rely on providing the best inflight service.

Don't cut cost when it comes to products and services.

"world class chefs preparing your meals" is just an uncertain marketing, in fact MAS also did this kinda promo quite sometimes ago, if not mistaken. you'll never see Anthony Bourdain or Chef Ramsey cooking in front of you bcoz it would definately burn and blow the whole aircraft...if you see the menus for MAS 1st class, it still looks great (for MAS, most probably indonesian workers did that, not a world-class chef and so do the other airline companies).

MAS only cut the full meal service for the short haul flight (KL-Bangkok), but does that measure reduce the number of passenger for that route? and does the THAI got benefit form it? i really want to know a correct figures on it...

MAS now flies to Yogyakarta
Friday February 1, 2008
MYT 6:05:33 PM
By WANI MUTHIAH
TheStar

YOGYAKARTA: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) launched its inaugural flight to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Friday morning.

MAS commercial director Datuk Abdul Rashid Khan said the launch was in line with MAS’ vision to expand its presence in key regional markets.

“The Yogyakarta route has great potential to contribute towards our profitability,” he said in his speech at KLIA.

Yogyakarta is the national carrier’s fifth scheduled service destination in Indonesia after Jakarta, Medan, Denpasar and Surabaya.

According to Abdul Rashid the national carrier’s strategy is to provide direct links between Malaysia and more cities in Indonesia, especially Java, the most populated part of the country.

“We now offer 44 return weekly flights between KLIA and Java,” he said.

The MAS flight to Yogyakarta departs KLIA at 9.20am every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday and the return flight departs Yogyakarta on the same days at 11.40am from the Adi Sutjipto Airport.

MAS to finalise aircraft purchase by 1Q
By Gan Yen Kuan, 01 Feb 2008 3:01 PM
THEEDGEDAILY

http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/storage/images/com.tms.cms.image.Image_d3cc97b7-cb73c03a-19214b10-89b9d68f/1/MAS_inside.jpg

SEPANG: Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS), which unveiled its Business Transformation Plan (BTP2) yesterday, expects to finalise the details of its aircraft purchase plan by the end of first quarter this year.

However, the national carrier had not decided on the type of aircraft and whether they would be from Airbus or Boeing, said MAS managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Idris Jala.

As delivery of aircraft would likely come after 2012 due to the huge global orders, MAS would lease aircraft in the intervening period, its executive director Tengku Azmil Zahruddin Raja Abdul Aziz added.

“We are getting to the tail-end of the evaluation of the narrow-bodied (aircraft). There is quite a bit of backlogs in both manufacturers,” he said.
On the delayed delivery of the A380 aircraft, Tengku Azmil said MAS would conclude the negotiations with Airbus by end-March.

“We are getting towards the end of the discussions. We’re definitely asking for compensation (while) all other options are open,” he said. The options reportedly included proceeding with or cancelling the orders.

On the BTP2, Jala said MAS would see sustained profitability with key initiatives, namely maintaining high quality products and services at affordable prices, structurally reducing its costs, offering competitive fares to win more customers, and growing its network and capacity.

He said rising fuel prices and global economic uncertainty would remain as the challenges for the airline to achieve its targeted annual profit of RM1.5 billion by 2012.

However, he said MAS would not be complacent and that he always believed in miracles although the journey ahead would be tougher. “In order for us not to become complacent, we must assume the worst, and then we plan and aim for the best,” he added.

The BTP2 is a follow-up of its Business Turnaround Plan unveiled in February 2006 that has successfully turned around the airline.

BTP2 aims at transforming MAS into the world’s five-star value carrier with a competitive cost structure. Jala said the ambitious earnings targets could be achieved if it stretches its limit even after factoring in the challenges in the industry, such as overcapacity, air traffic liberalisation and rising fuel cost.

MAS aspires to save up to RM1 billion under BTP2 as well. Once it achieves the target, Jala said the savings would be reflected in its cost structures in the years that followed.

Without the transformation plan, he warned that MAS could slip into the red again and made losses of over RM1 billion in 2012 if its yield dropped more than 5% and seat factor fell 5% to 6%.

For 2008, MAS has three sets of internal earnings targets, namely RM400 million to RM550 million, RM551 million to RM650 million, and RM651 million to RM1 billion or above, all assuming that jet fuel price stands at US$100 (RM324) per barrel.

“Last year alone, we made RM610 million up to the third quarter. We are targeting the middle column (RM551 million to RM650 million),” he said.

He said MAS was monitoring closely the impact of global economic uncertainty, and would mitigate the risk of rising fuel prices by implementing a competitive hedging policy that was in line with those of its competitors.

He added that it had yet to see any adverse impact on the airline industry amid the economic uncertainty, as it did not see decline in forward bookings of air tickets.

Meanwhile, he said it expected to seal a code-share agreement with Jet Airways in India by April, pending the completion of matters related to system integration. He added that MAS had seen “tremendous growth” in India and would expand its network there.

On the extension of his contract with MAS, Jala said: “It’s still early day to talk about it. We’ve initiated some early discussions. It’s progressing well.” Jala’s contract with MAS will expire in December this year. Should his term is not extended, Jala said he would recommend Tengku Azmil as his successor.

At the event yesterday, MAS also officially launched Malaysian Hospitality — a global campaign that brands its five-star product and services linking to its flight code MH.

MAS making hospitality its thrust
Saturday February 2, 2008
Stories by RACHAEL KAM
TheStar

MUCH of the national carrier's growth has been in line with the nation's transformation from Malaya into modern Malaysia.

The airline started offering local passenger and cargo flights in 1937 and 11 years later, took off to its first international flight to Bangkok. The carrier was then known as Malayan Airways Ltd (MAL).



http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/2/2/business/b_08planes.jpg

MAS aircraft sit in the tarmac at KL International Airport.
The airline plans to train cabin crew to provide travel tips to passengers. – AP



It became Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA) in 1967. The two countries then parted ways and formed Malaysia Airlines System (MAS) and Singapore Airlines (SIA) in 1972.

Over the last six decades, the airline has spread its wings to various destinations worldwide and today, it flies more than 48,000 passengers to over 100 destinations across six continents daily. Its fleet, meanwhile, is one of the newest in the region.

Indeed, MAS, which carries the country's name in its logo, has built a strong name over the years. As the national carrier flies the world, it bears testament to Malaysia's multi-racial society, colourful culture and harmonious way of living.

With aspirations of becoming a world champion in the airline industry over the next five years, MAS is spending RM8mil to RM10mil for its Malaysian Hospitality (MH) campaign to refresh and reposition the brand.

Communication senior general manager Indira Nair said like any other brand, MAS has to be dynamic.

In today's fast-paced world, it is not merely about keeping up with times but staying ahead of the curve, she said.




http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/2/2/business/b_faces.jpg



This is what MAS intends to achieve with MH, which is about constantly finding out what customers value and provide services that meet customers' requirements.

“MH is not just our airline code, it stands for Malaysian Hospitality.

“It is the hospitality of Malaysians that we want to bring to our customers; to make them feel the warmth, friendliness and culture we have in Malaysia when they get on our flights while Malaysians will feel at home,” she told StarBiz.

The MH campaign includes internal and external activities that relate to the brand's new look. The activities involve a lot of training and brainstorming sessions for staff, positioning programmes, brochures/leaflets/MH magazines as well as billboards, print advertisements and TV commercials.

In conjunction with the launch of the MH campaign, MAS has continuous training and workshops for employees and has come out with refreshing and colourful advertisements and TV commercials that reflect the hospitality of Malaysians.

The airline has also changed all its overhead bridge billboard advertisements in the country.

“Nevertheless, we think a brand is built over time and it is about the experience customers have with the brand; it is not merely advertising.




http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/2/2/business/b_logo.jpg




“The whole idea behind the campaign was to build on what we already had and to make it stronger.

“Our strategy is to offer a unique Malaysian experience and distinct offerings, which are aligned to the nation's aspirations,” she said.

However, MAS does not have a global brand campaign due to a limited budget.

The campaign, which is part of MAS' business transformation plan, aims at giving customers a seamless and hassle-free travel experience that is imbued with graciousness and warmth.

“When customers talk about hospitality, they are looking for the basics. They want to feel important, be treated well and with respect.

“We believe we need to treat every passenger as we would treat a guest in our own homes,” Indira said.

She stressed that the MH campaign is an area in which MAS can work with the Tourism Ministry. This is because often when passengers get aboard, their experience would be the first impression they get of Malaysia.

“We are looking at Tourism Malaysia to make Malaysian hospitality something that every Malaysian can 'own', and that would be even more amazing.”

According to feedback received by MAS, a lot of passengers felt Malaysian cabin crew are knowledgeable and more street-wise, and able to better answer questions than crew members of some other airlines.

To better inform MAS' passengers about their travel destinations, the airline also plans to select and train cabin crew who are familiar with different destinations, to provide travel tips to passengers.

For instance, if one is onboard a flight to Melbourne, crew members might be able to advise on the best place to eat and shop, Indira said, adding that this “extra service” should be extended to all passengers.

Visiting pilot fined over child porn

Posted Fri Feb 8, 2008 4:15pm AEDT
file image

A Malaysian Airlines pilot arriving in Adelaide was found to have child sex videos on his laptop computer.

* Map: Adelaide 5000

A Malaysia Airlines pilot who was caught importing child pornography to Australia yesterday has faced court.

When Ahmad Said, 25, arrived at Adelaide Airport yesterday he said he did not have anything to declare.

But customs officers searched his laptop and found child sex videos.

A handcuffed Said has faced court.

Magistrate Simon Smart told him the videos were cruel and violent and it was a disgrace that the married father of two had brought the material to Australia.

The magistrate said people like Said encouraged the market for child pornography.

Said, whose wife is expecting their third child, was fined $6,000.

He left court with a jumper over his head because of television camera crews.

*****************************************************************

Haze and nazrey...you missed this news...

^^i think i'm too a bit pedo....so, nothing wrong for him...

i dont think its a child sex video...i think its under age..maybe those local made school video..14-16yo girls...

Damn Adelaide airport security checks are ridiculously strict...:ohno:...one reason people dun like to visit adelaide :nuts:

it's likely a tip-off

never mind the strip clubs on Hindley STreet,Adelaide.:lol:

Wrong attitude. Is being pedophilia can be tolerated in our society?

Wrong attitude. Is being pedophilia can be tolerated in our society?
well, we all wanna marry young people :lol:..abit pedola

‘Porn pilot’ ‘under probe

By TEH ENG HOCK

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Airlines (MAS) pilot, who was caught and fined for importing child pornography in Adelaide, has been relieved of flying duties to facilitate an internal enquiry by the national carrier.

In a statement, MAS group human resources senior general manager Effendi Abdul Rahman said:

“We are first conducting an internal enquiry into this matter. Based on the findings, any further action taken will be in accordance with the MoU between Malaysia Airlines and the Malaysia Airlines Pilots Association (MAPA).”

The pilot, who was identified by Australian news portals ABC News and the Adelaide Advertiser as Ahmad Said, 25, was arrested by Customs officers at the Adelaide International Airport last Thursday after they found three video files containing child pornography in his laptop.

ABC News said that when the pilot arrived at the airport, he told them he did not have anything to declare.

But when Customs officers searched his laptop, they found the child video files.

The Adelaide Advertiser reported that the videos were titled “Reped Virgin”, “10-Year Old” and “High School Students.”

His lawyer told the court that Ahmad had been e-mailed the video files and had not shown them to anyone else.

“He was simply reckless, this was not material brought in to be disseminated,” lawyer Stephen Barratt had told the Adelaide court.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10-year-old???? Kena rotan ni.

high school student still ok la...but 10 year old? aiyyooo..sick or what??
wacko jacko in the making..hahaa

Haha..the Advertiser..they'll be running this story for weeks:lol:

Wrong attitude. Is being pedophilia can be tolerated in our society?

well, public should let this problem as a personal matters. let me tell ya...those pedos also has their own 'right action movement', you tau...don't play play...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Piexchange.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d6/Nambla-logo.png/300px-Nambla-logo.png
North American Man/Boy Love Association

well...sneaking and digging into other's personal belongings is SICKER than the pedophile..!!

i started to pity ahmad said,everyone has their own dirty linen to hide from. It's more actually a tipped off from fellow friends or from anyone. Anyway we cant just blame the aussie custom for this, as we in Malaysia also have this kinda authority 'to keep people in check'. I dont want to turn this into political debate in this thread. Sicker or not, he committed a crime under aussie law. This law is just as sick as ISA.

There's some law enacted to keep predators/boy lovers/sick men like this from exploiting innocent child. Yeah other people has their own 'taste' and rights to do anything they want behind their closed doors but imagine if the victim is your own adik or saudara mara, will you stand up for them? This paragraph is not for ahmad said but is directly to those who got lust in little children. You should pity those 10-year-olds, they knew nothing and dont deserve to learn it that early.

there seems to be a crackdown on air travelers arriving in Adelaide, their laptops are checked for downloaded porn, better clear all your history and downloaded files before going to OZ. More news on this here http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest+News/Courts+and+Crime/STIStory_205772.html

The Adelaide govt must be in the dire need of money.

Government keen to sell stake in Malaysia Airlines, says CEO
The Associated Press
Published: February 18, 2008
SINGAPORE: The Malaysian government is keen to sell a stake in Malaysia Airlines to ensure the company remain globally competitive in an industry which is fast consolidating, the company's chief executive said Monday.

If the government decides to offload some or all of its 69 percent stake in the national carrier, it could be offered to a strategic partner or to the market, said Chief Executive Idris Jala.

"I certainly believe that the government is very keen (to sell a stake). It'll do it for the right price at the right time," Idris told reporters on the sideline of a regional aviation conference here.

At the same time, he said the flag carrier is exploring the possibility of acquiring stakes in other airlines although this is still in the early stage.

He said passenger demand is expected to fall short of the industry's total capacity over the next five years, which will hurt airlines' profitability and push the formation of new alliances.

"We are looking at opportunities in Asia-Pacific region," Idris said. "I believe mergers and acquisitions are very efficient. It will reduce costs and we will be able to offer lower fares."

Last month, the carrier unveiled a five-year growth plan which calls for opening up more routes in Southeast Asia, China and India, fleet expansion and lower fares to boost its annual profit to as much as 3 billion ringgit (US$930 million; €634 million) by 2012.

Idris said the airline also aims to save as much as 1 billion ringgit (US$310 million; €211 million) this year through cost-cutting in procurement, maintenance and other related services.

"Our operations costs are up because of fuel prices and also wages are going up, we want to take out bad costs," he said.

The carrier rebounded from deep losses in 2005 and 2006 with a record profit of 610 million ringgit (US$189 million; €129 million) in the nine months to September 2007 following a successful revamp.

On fleet expansion, Idris said the carrier will likely decide by April whether to proceed with its order for six superjumbo A380s following a delay in delivery due to production problems.

"I'm happy about the latest development with Airbus. We are reaching a win-win situation," he said.

Last month, company officials have indicated the airline may stick to its plan to acquire up to 110 new planes, with a final decision to be made after the current quarter.
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MAS launches travel insurance plan
Published: 2008/02/19


MALAYSIA Airlines has launched its Travel Insurance, which will protect passengers from trip cancellation, loss of luggage and overseas medical costs.

The insurance package is offered in partnership with with Mondial Assistance, a leader in travel insurance and assistance, and Etiqa Insurance.

It is available for flights departing Malaysia, and will be extended to include more than 10 countries in the coming months, said the national carrier in a statement.

Malaysia Airlines said domestic and international travel insurance plans are offered up to 30 days and 180 days of coverage respectively in addition to 24-hour worldwide emergency medical and travel assistance, with prices starting from RM15.

The airline said customers and the general public can purchase the insurance online at www.malaysiaairlines.com. — Bernama

Govt open to partnership in MAS
19-02-2008
by Gan Yen Kuan
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com


SINGAPORE: The government is open to the possibility of Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) establishing a strategic partnership with another airline that may result in the dilution of its stake in the national carrier, said MAS managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Idris Jala.

He said the government was keen on the right opportunity to reduce its stake in MAS without relinquishing control in the carrier, as merger and consolidation in the global airline industry had become inevitable amid industry liberalisation.

Jala said overcapacity was anticipated with more aircraft coming onstream beginning this year, and airlines worldwide would inevitably have to consolidate to ease the excess capacity for better yields, apart from reinventing their business models.

By merger and consolidation, Jala meant it might involve sale and acquisition of equity interests or partnerships in various areas such as in the information technology, and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) segments.

Citing the merger of Air France and Netherlands-based KLM as an example, he said the two airlines had been put in a much stronger position after the merger that synergised both airlines’ values.

“I think the first step in making alliances is (by joining) the global airline alliances such as SkyTeam. It will also involve (stake sale and acquisition). In our discussions with them (the government), they are certainly open to the idea of dilution (of stake in MAS).

“I certainly believe that the government is very keen on the right price and the right opportunity to dilute its stake,” he told reporters here yesterday before the award presentation ceremony of the Air Transport World’s (ATW) 2008 Airline Industry Achievement Awards.

Apart from a golden share, the government via its investment arm Khazanah Nasional Bhd, holds a 69% stake in MAS.

Jala said Khazanah would likely maintain its controlling stake even if it decided to sell down. He added that he was not in a position to say to what extent Khazanah would cut its stake and when that would happen.

Jala said MAS itself would also look at opportunities in acquiring loss-making airlines in the next five years “when opportunities arise”, adding that financing would not be a major problem.

This is despite MAS having to focus on the implementation of its recently unveiled Business Transformation Plan (BTP2), under which Jala and his team have set an ambitious target of achieving an annual profit of RM1.5 billion by 2012 and to transform the airline into a “five-star value carrier.”

Asked if MAS would collaborate with low-cost carriers such as AirAsia Bhd, he said: “We are always open to opportunity when it comes. You must never say never.”

Meanwhile, at the ATW 2008 Airline Industry Achievement Awards, MAS was awarded the Phoenix Award in recognition of its “remarkable turnaround” and “life-changing transformation”.

ATW is the leading monthly magazine covering the global airline industry. Its editorial director and associate publisher Perry Flint said: “In less than two years, Malaysia Airlines has turned itself completely around. A company that was near to bankruptcy in early 2006 is now enjoying the best year in its history.

“This remarkable about-face is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the airline’s staff and the vision of CEO and managing director, Idris Jala, whose Business Turnaround Plan became Malaysia’s blueprint for success.”

For the first nine months of 2007, MAS posted a net profit of RM610 million, the highest profit in its 60-year history. It will announce its full-year 2007 results on Feb 25.

32kg limit for each check-in luggage on MAS
Sunday February 24, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines will limit the weight of each check-in luggage to 32kg for all classes of travel beginning next month.

Customers whose check-in luggage exceeds the stipulated weight limit will be required to repack their luggage into smaller units before they can check in, the airline said in a statement yesterday.

The new rule is being introduced to reduce manual handling risks to employees and raise occupational health levels, the national carrier said.

“This new safety measure will reduce the exposure of our teams to manual handling injuries as a result of lifting extremely heavy luggage during check-in and at the baggage-handling area,” said the airline’s senior general manager of airport operations Yusop Jaridi.

The weight limit relates only to single items of luggage and does not affect passengers’ overall baggage allowance. – Bernama

naik MAS ok, tapi lelama duduk kat econ class tu jadi lenguh backside.. aiyo.

^^ ait.. nape beb ? Kapal tebang lain tak lenguh ke ? Rasanya mas menang econ kelas kan dlm skytrax ?

Malaysian Airline returns to profit in 2007, exceeds financial targets
02.25.08, 7:10 AM ET

KUALA LUMPUR (Thomson Financial) - Malaysian Airline System (MAS) said Monday it returned to profit in 2007 and even managed to exceed all its financial targets after reporting a net loss the previous year.

The national airline said fourth-quarter net profit rose to 242 million ringgit from 122 million a year earlier on improved yields and strong passenger demand.

Full-year net profit jumped to 851 million ringgit from a net loss of 136 million ringgit in 2006.

Consensus estimates had put MAS' net profit at 592 million ringgit for 2007.

The national airline also declared a dividend of 2.5 sen a share.

MAS' fourth quarter revenue rose 8 percent from a year earlier to 4.07 billion ringgit after passenger revenue grew 14 percent.

For the full year, revenue was up 13 percent at 15.3 billion ringgit on strong passenger demand and sustained yield improvements.

Operating profit improved to 798 million ringgit from a loss of 296 million ringgit previously, on a robust 71.5 percent passenger load factor and yield which rose 12 percent to 27 sen per revenue passenger kilometer.

'We have come a long way from our 1.3 billion ringgit losses and near bankruptcy in 2005 to achieve this record profit in just two years,'' the company said in a statement. 'We also have money in the bank, a healthy cash position of 5.3 billion ringgit which we will use to grow MAS.''

'We have exceeded all our financial targets and surpassed our 2007 stretch (or maximum) target of 300 million ringgit by 184 percent,'' it said.

'We will utilize the cash surplus (of 5.3 billion ringgit) for aircraft purchases. Quite a bit of the cash will be set aside for that, and some of the money will be used to automate a lot of our processes and to improve our customer services and to reduce costs,'' said chief financial officer Tengku Azmil.

Azmil said the airline is also in the midst of formulating a new dividend policy but he ruled out the possibility of paying a one-off cash return.

'I can't give you the details until we have finalized the numbers. We will look at a very holistic capital management policy.''

The dividend policy will be announced sometime this year.

'MAS is well positioned to grow organically and when the (M&A) opportunity arises, we will be able to grab the occasion too,'' said Idris Jala, chief executive of MAS, when asked about the airline's merger and acquisition activities.

Recent media reports have said the government is open to the idea of cutting its stake in the company to enable MAS to establish a strategic partnership with other airlines.

Idris said he expects challenging times ahead despite the swing to profit in 2007.

'With the record profits, we are not declaring victory. The world is going to get relatively hard in the next few years (and) with a tough and competitive environment, we could lose a lot of money.''

He said barring any exceptional circumstances, the airline aspires to achieve its stretch profit target of 1 billion ringgit in 2008.

The outlook for the cargo business looks good despite the 2 percent drop in cargo revenue in the fourth quarter due to stiff competition, said Idris.

The national airline's cargo unit, MasKargo, has entered into a global partnership with the world's largest freight forwarder, DHL Global Forward, and with DB Schenker.

The MAS chief said the potential revenue of the two partnerships can surpass 350 million ringgit annually.

On the impact of high oil prices, Idris said an increase of 1-5 US dollars per barrel will have a 50-250 million ringgit impact on its bottom line.

'MAS will diligently mitigate the impact via an increase in fuel surcharge hedging and fuel efficiency,'' he said.

On the status of MAS' orders for six Airbus A380 aircraft, chief financial officer Azmil said talks are in their final stages but nothing has been confirmed. MAS has asked for compensation for delays in the delivery of the aircraft.

'We are continuing our discussion with Airbus. We have made some decent progress over the last few weeks but we are still talking and we have not finalized anything yet,'' said Azmil.

Gald to hear that! However, if you pay attention to their financial report, we can see that the selling of aircraft and properties contribute huge amount of profits. That means that MAS still have lots more to do before the aviation sector in ASEAN is fully liberated.

MAS earnings for Q4 doubles

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airline's (MAS) net profit for the fourth quarter ended Dec 31 doubled to RM242mil from RM122mil a year earlier, thanks to higher operating revenue and improved yields.

Revenue increased 8% to RM4.07bil from RM3.77bil, while operating profit jumped 111% to RM245mil from RM116mil before.

Earnings per share improved to 16.49 sen from 8.69 sen.

Managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Idris Jala said the fourth quarter marked the “sixth consecutive quarter of sustained profitability,” which began in the third quarter of financial year 2006.

Following the turnaround, MAS proposed a final dividend of 2.5 sen per share, the first dividend payout since the 2004/05 financial year. The proposed dividend of RM41mil will be paid at a date to be determined and is subject to shareholders' approval at an AGM scheduled for June.


Datuk Seri Idris Jala (left) and Datuk Tengku Azmil Zahruddin
“(In addition to the dividend), the company has approved bonuses which will be announced in March,” Jala told a media briefing when announcing the airline's results yesterday.

For the full year ended Dec 31 (FY07), the national carrier's soaring net profit of RM851.42mil was the highest ever, compared with losses of RM136.43mil in FY06.

MAS' previous record net profit was RM461mil achieved in FY04.

When the airline announced its business turnaround plan in late February 2006, it had targeted net profit of RM50mil for FY07. Jala said the actual net profit for FY07 was “17 times the target.”

For FY07, strong passenger demand and sustained yield improvements enhanced revenue by 13% to RM15.29bil from RM13.5bil a year earlier.

Operating profit climbed to RM798mil from a loss of RM296mil previously helped by a robust passenger load factor of 71.5% and yield that rose 12% to 27 sen per revenue passenger kilometre.

MAS flew 14 million passengers in FY07.

The airline also reduced costs by over RM900mil in FY07 against a year earlier. Domestic cost was higher at RM848mil in FY07 compared with RM623mil in FY06 as the latter was incurred for only five months as opposed to the full-year cost in 2007.

MAS overcame its cash crisis as it now had RM5.26bil for growth.

Executive director and chief financial officer Datuk Tengku Azmil Zahruddin said the company would use the cash for aircraft purchases, as “quite a bit of cash” would be set aside for that.

“There are a lot of things that we are planning to do; to automate a lot of our processes to improve our customer service and to reduce our operational costs,” he added.

On whether the cash would be used to pursue mergers and acquisitions, Jala said the airline was in a comfortable position and was ready to do pursue this avenue “as soon as the opportunity arrives.”

With regard to the airline's dividend policy, Azmil said the company was looking at it from scratch.

“The capital management policy will include a new dividend policy. I cannot give you the details until we finalise the numbers but we want to continue to make profits and reward shareholders. We are not planning a one-off special dividend,” he added.

The dividend policy is expected to be unveiled later in the year.

Jala said the company would continue to intensify efforts to generate and sustain profitability.

MAS recently secured two three-year contracts with the Armed Forces of Malaysia, which guarantee a minimum potential earning of RM103mil in total, and is working on finalising the maintenance, repair and overhaul joint venture with Qantas.

Besides that, MASkargo entered into global partnerships with DHL Global Forwarding and DB Schenker. Jala said the potential value of the two partnerships could exceed RM350mil yearly.

As for the effect of high fuel prices, an increase of US$1 to US$5 per barrel will cost the company RM50mil to RM250mil.

“MAS will diligently mitigate the impact via increase in fuel surcharge, hedging and fuel efficiency,” Jala said.

MAS flying above expectations

Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com


MALAYSIAN Airline System Bhd (MAS) financial results for the year ended Dec 31, 2007 beat industry expectations, confirming its turnaround and showing that the airline is well and truly profit making, said analysts.

Aseambankers Research said MAS’ 2007 core net profit of RM830.2 million was 8.9% above its expectations and 47.6% above consensus forecasts, driven by better revenues and earnings before interest and tax margins.

It said the new contracts MAS secured from the Royal Malaysian Army and express courier firm DHL would further boost revenue by up to RM433 million annually.

Aseambankers Research reiterated its buy recommendation on MAS at RM4.38 and raised its target price to RM6.15 from RM6, and said it continued to like the airline for its deep and sustained earnings growth being realised.

“At 9.5 times 2009 fully diluted earnings per share and target price RM6.15, MAS is at a slight discount to regional peers. We raised 2008 and 2009 earnings by 8.4% and 6.6% respectively, with a further upside bias.”

“We have imputed US$90 (RM293.40) per barrel crude fuel cost in 2008, whilst MAS’ hedge and current prices translate into US$94,” it said.

Aseambankers Research said MAS’ 2007 core net profit came from more efficient and market-driven operations and pricing, and highlighted that although passenger capacity contracted 4.8% year-on-year, MAS’ 12.6% increase in revenue and cost controls proved to be decisive.

“MAS also generated net cash of about RM2.7 billion in 2007 (excluding drawdown of borrowings), allowing it to declare a surprise dividend of 2.5 sen per share, putting MAS closer in line with regional peers,” it said.

On the contracts the airline secured, Aseambankers Research said these contracts represent incremental revenues on routes and frequencies that MAS already operates.

“Our first cut estimate is that MAS may chalk up RM150 million in revenue in 2008, before rising to as much as RM433 million in 2010.”

“This assumes MAS gradually and carefully takes on business from DHL, given the recent history of DHL’s local cargo airline partner recognising losses from its long-haul tie-up with DHL,” it said.

The research house said it had not imputed the DHL contract into its forecasts pending further details.

Meanwhile, OSK Investment Research maintained its buy recommendation on MAS at RM4.38 with a target price of RM6.40 and said that MAS would be one of the survivors in the upcoming challenging aviation environment, provided the key management team is retained.

“Our forecasts are largely unchanged due to concern on oil prices but even so, our fair value gives 46% upside. Our forecasts were already 28% and 16% above FY08 and FY09 consensus forecasts respectively.”

“If the shareholders retain the current management team, we believe MAS can indeed achieve its base case business turnaround plan 2 (BTP2) target of RM1.5 billion net profit by 2010,” it said.

The research house said MAS net profit for 2007 confirmed the airline’s turnaround based on its strategy of yield enhancement and cost control.

OSK Research said the impact from the liberation of the aviation sector would not be a major one on MAS, explaining that while MAS had reduced its capacity on the KL-Singapore route by 30% since it was opened to low cost carriers in February, this was offset by MAS’ load factor increasing by 10 percentage points and constant yields.

“Going forward, MAS expects minimal impact to profitability. This should help its shareholders breathe a sigh of relief as a major concern had been the potential negative impact of impending liberalisation on MAS’ Asean routes.”

“Now, we need to watch out for how its China routes may be impacted by AirAsia X,” it said.

MAS fell 12 sen to close at RM4.26 yesterday with 220,700 shares changing hands.

MAS increases fuel hedging
Published: 2008/03/14



The national airline will get 43 per cent of its fuel this year at US$89 for a barrel of crude


MALAYSIAN Airline System Bhd (MAS), the nation's largest carrier, raised fuel hedging to limit the increase in the company's biggest expense as the price of crude oil surged to a record this week.

The airline will get 43 per cent of its fuel this year at the rate of US$89 (RM281) for a barrel of crude, chief executive officer Datuk Idris Jala said in an e-mailed statement to Bloomberg questions. In November, the airline had hedged 29 per cent of its fuel needs at US$69 (RM218) a barrel of crude.

Crude oil surged to a record US$110.20 (RM348) a barrel yesterday, while the price of jet fuel increased 39 per cent in the past six months. The airline, which aims to quadruple profit in five years, also imposes a fuel surcharge.

Fuel "is a big challenge for the airline industry as the increase will unfavourably impact the airlines' financial position," Idris said.


MAS shares closed unchanged at RM3.60 yesterday. - Bloomberg

I wonder what kind of wide bodied aircraft will MAS buy. I tend to gravitate to B787 :).And when will MAS announce their purchase. Their fleet is shrinking and aging quite fast.

MAS as other GLCs only interested in showing off 'how profitable' and 'how much money you have ' rather than... 'how reputable you are' :ohno:

anyway i still believe MAS is doing a good job....

MAS initiatives to bring in more sales next year

By SHARIDAN M. ALI

GUANGZHOU: Malaysia Airlines expects additional revenue of RM70mil to RM100mil per annum, starting next year, from its global hub and spoke network initiatives.

Managing director Datuk Seri Idris Jala said the group would see part of the additional revenue this year.

“The optimal contribution will start next year as we are now in the process of enhancing our network and promoting the cross-selling of services between airlines that we have code-share agreements with,” he said.

Jala said this before the formalisation ceremony of a code-share agreement between MAS and China Southern Airlines (CSA) yesterday.

He said the volume of passengers in the network with CSA had doubled since its started last November.

From this code-share arrangement, MAS can now offer services to 90 destinations in China from Guangzhou and 38 destinations in China from Beijing using CSA.

“We are leveraging on the strong growth of Chinese outbound travellers and expect to see a 7% increase in the number of passengers for our China-Malaysia flights this year,” he said.

CSA chairman Liu Shao Yong said the company had also seen a 10% increase in sales via 300,000 passengers since the code sharing with MAS in November.

Jala also said that MAS planned to sign two more code-share agreements with Turkish Airlines in Turkey and Jet Airways in India by June.

“The agreement with Turkish Airlines is expected to fly beyond Istanbul to the rest of central Europe. Currently, we are discussing some technical issues with them.

“Similarly, the code sharing with Jet Airways promises a large network in the Indian continent,” he said.

With the inclusion of CSA, MAS had signed seven code-share agreements with airlines globally.

MAS may opt for non-PMB leasing
By Presenna Nambiar
Published: 2008/03/25



Preference will be given to Penerbangan Malaysia Bhd, but if MAS gets better lease rates from other lessors, then it will go with the latter, says MAS managing director


MALAYSIA Airlines (MAS) said it will consider leasing aircraft from other lessors, rather than Penerbangan Malaysia Bhd (PMB), to replace part of its current fleet, if PMB's lease rates are less favourable than the market's.

"Preference will of course be given to PMB if it were to give us the best rates. But if PMB's rates are not good and we get better from other lessors, then we will go with the latter ... it is a pure commercial deal," MAS managing director Datuk Seri Idris Jala told reporters in China recently.

He said parent company PMB must make sure that its lease rates are good and as competitive as the market's.

"We must keep it on its toes. There is no free ride, and it knows that too," said Idris.


According to its website, the national carrier has a fleet of 111 airplanes in use, 90 per cent of which are leased from PMB.

MAS first announced plans to undergo a fleet replacement exercise in 2007.

Even though the carrier had announced plans to submit request for proposals (RFP) for up to 55 wide-body and 55 narrow-body aircraft to aircraft manufacturers last year, the carrier has since been reviewing the type and size of fleet it would require.

"We have had many discussions and I'm not shy to say that we spent a lot of time on this, and the reason is that the single largest decision any CEO will ever make is the purchase of aircraft. As such, we should not take this matter lightly," Idris said.

He said a detailed analysis on the type and size of fleet it will need has been extremely painstaking, but necessary to the success of the programme.

"I can guarantee with the work that we have been doing that when we make the announcement, we have done the best that we possibly can," Idris said.

He said the national carrier would be looking to both owning and leasing aircraft.

Industry talk has it that MAS may have to buy the A320s from budget airline AirAsia Bhd if it does choose the plane in their narrow-body fleet replacement exercise. This is to ensure that MAS gets the planes early.

MAS: Full benefit from hub-and-spoke from 2009
From Presenna Nambiar
Published: 2008/03/21



The RM70 million-RM100 million contribution yearly will come in full force once MAS consolidates its network and cross-selling between airlines accelerates, says MAS managing director


GUANGZHOU: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) said its enhanced global hub-and-spoke network is expected to produce RM70 million to RM100 million per year in additional revenue from next year.

"We will see some contributions this year, but the full benefit of the hub-and-spoke programme will only be felt next year," MAS managing director Datuk Seri Idris Jala told Malaysian reporters here yesterday.

He said the contribution will come in full force once the national carrier consolidates its network and cross-selling between airlines accelerates.

He was speaking before the formalisation ceremony of a code-share agreement between MAS and China Southern Airlines, the largest airline in China.

"We will leverage on the strong growth of Chinese outbound travellers, and expect to see a seven per cent increase in the number of passengers for our China-Malaysia flights," Idris said.

MAS saw the number of passengers on the flights double since the implementation of the code-share arrangement in November last year.

The code-share arrangement between the two airlines now allows MAS passengers to travel to 90 destinations in China from Guangzhou and 38 from Beijing on China Southern.

China Southern chairman Liu Shao Yong said the airline has transported 300,000 passengers and seen a 10 per cent increase in sales from the code-sharing with MAS since November.

Meanwhile, MAS expects to sign two more code-share agreements, with Turkish Airlines in Turkey and Jet Airways in India, in the second quarter of this year.

"With Turkish Airlines, we are looking at a hub-and-spoke arrangement that goes beyond Istanbul to the rest of central Europe. There are some technical issues that we are dealing with now," Idris said.

The two agreements are seen as vital pieces to MAS' hub-and-spoke jigsaw puzzle due to their extensive network.

Idris said the weakest link in the hub-and-spoke network at present is the code-share arrangement with the Bahrain-based Gulf Air.

"Gulf Air currently has limited spokes and we are thinking of strategies to improve the network."

On its six A380 superjumbo order and fleet expansion plans, Idris said that MAS will make an announcement next month.

He did not say whether MAS might scrap its order for the A380, which is two years late in delivery.

Airbus had announced delays in delivery because of wiring complications.

MAS keen on mergers
From Anna Maria Samsudin

The Malaysian airline does not discount the possibility of mergers and acquisitions with low-cost carriers, including AirAsia


SINGAPORE: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has expressed interest in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) with other airlines, especially Asia Pacific carriers, to grow the company within five years.

And it does not discount the possibility of doing so with low-cost carriers (LCCs), including AirAsia.

Managing director Datuk Seri Idris Jala said M&A opportunities should not only be confined to share acquisitions but may include other forms of alliances or collaborations, such as those in the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) divisions.

MAS' recent MRO joint venture with Qantas is one example of this collaboration, and Idris is confident that opportunities exist with other carriers.


"We are open to all M&A opportunities. It is still early and we are now occupied with our second business transformation plan (BTP2). However, if the opportunity arises, we are ready for it. Financing will not be a problem as we have various ways to do so.

"As for possible alliance and collaboration with AirAsia, we are open to it. I believe the best way to collaborate is to compete and collaborate. I think competition between MAS and AirAsia is good as it drives both parties to continue to improve themselves.

"We are also interested in collaboration. Any opportunity that is good, we will look at it," he told reporters before accepting Air Transport World's Phoenix Award here yesterday.

Idris said apart from being part of its BTP2, M&A and alliances will also help MAS prepare for possible overcapacity in the region in the future, resulting from huge aircraft orders among regional airlines.

The more liberalised aviation landscape in the region is also seen as another reason for airlines to look at various forms of collabora-tion and alliances.

He said overcapacity would result in declining margins for airlines and may even cause some to go bankrupt.

"There are possibilities of overcapacity in the region and some airlines may even face financial difficulties. When this happens, we will be alive and kicking and will be in a good position to take up the M&A, alliance and collaboration opportunities," he said.

In line with this, Idris said, major shareholder Khazanah Nasional has agreed to dilute its current stakeholding of 69 per cent in the airline.

"They are open to the idea of diluting ... but that is a question you should ask them. I believe the government is keen for the right price and the right opportunity to dilute. I think they will do it gradually."

On whether the government will reduce its stake via open market or to strategic partners, he said that depends on which choice would give the most value.

"Whatever it is, even if the government reduces its stake, they will remain a major shareholder. They don't need a 69 per cent stake in the airline to be a major stakeholder," he added.

On the development of its six A380s orders, Idris said the airline is happy with the latest round of discussions with airframe maker Airbus.

"I can't reveal the details. All I can say is that we are nearing the point of reaching a win-win deal for both parties. We hope to conclude everything by end of March or April," he added.

MAS was awarded the Phoenix Award in recognition of its remarkable turnaround, having transformed itself from a loss-making into profitable entity within just nine months.

MAS formulating dividend policy
Published: 2008/03/27

MALAYSIAN Airline System Bhd (MAS) is in the process of formulating a dividend policy, which will be part of a balance sheet management policy.

MAS executive director and chief financial officer Tengku Azmil Zahruddin said this will include setting gearing level targets for the carrier.

MAS has proposed a first and final tax exempt dividend of 2.50 sen for the year to December 31 2007, its first in three years.

MAS To Announce Decision On Aircraft Purchase Plan Soon
March 26, 2008 22:08 PM E-mail this news to a friend Printable version of this news

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines Bhd has yet to make a decision on its aircraft purchase plan, which is likely to involve the purchase of up to 55 aircrafts.

But an announcement on the matter would be made soon, its executive director cum chief financial officer Tengku Datuk Azmil Zahruddin Raja Abdul Aziz told reporters on the sidelines of the Invest Malaysia 2008 annual conference here Wednesday.

Currently, the national carrier has a fleet of 111 airplanes in use.

The airline had announced plans to submit request for proposals (RFP) for up to 55 wide-body and 55 narrow-body aircraft to aircraft manufacturers last year.

Earlier, Azmil made a presentation on MAS to some 60 fund managers who attended the annual conference.

Azmil said a lot of the fund managers who attended the session, were concerned about how the airline was dealing with rising oil price.

He said explanations were given on the airline's hedging approach to fuel.

He also said the airline's cash position was at RM5.3 billion and that it was preparation towards meeting any economic downturn.

"We have a very good cash balance which allows us to take advantage of opportunities that may arise during a downturn," he added.

Azmil also said the airline was looking at formulating a dividend policy. It does not have a dividend policy at the moment.

"The dividend policy will be tied in to a balance sheet management policy."

MAS proposed a dividend payout of 2.5 sen per share recently. It would be its first dividend payout after its turnaround plan.

-- BERNAMA

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:banana:

I say ditch Airbus. Go for a mix of 747-8 and B787 :banana:.B747 freighter should also be considered. But I am sure MAS will still get Airbus with special offer as compensation following the A380 delays.

MAS being a loyal customer of Boeing will sure opt for 787. btw, who knows the exact time on when MAS will get its first A380? :dunno:

I believe the wait for B787 is also long. Tu la MAS, lambat. I think the wait for 747-8 should be OK coz there are only about 105 firm orders.:)

buletin utama tonite says Airbus comfirms that they are in nego with MAS on new aircraft orders....

might be A350?...but some says the aircraft got various technical problems....

MAS To Announce Decision On Aircraft Purchase Plan Soon
March 26, 2008 22:08 PM E-mail this news to a friend Printable version of this news

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines Bhd has yet to make a decision on its aircraft purchase plan, which is likely to involve the purchase of up to 55 aircrafts.

But an announcement on the matter would be made soon, its executive director cum chief financial officer Tengku Datuk Azmil Zahruddin Raja Abdul Aziz told reporters on the sidelines of the Invest Malaysia 2008 annual conference here Wednesday.

Currently, the national carrier has a fleet of 111 airplanes in use.

The airline had announced plans to submit request for proposals (RFP) for up to 55 wide-body and 55 narrow-body aircraft to aircraft manufacturers last year.

Earlier, Azmil made a presentation on MAS to some 60 fund managers who attended the annual conference.

Azmil said a lot of the fund managers who attended the session, were concerned about how the airline was dealing with rising oil price.

He said explanations were given on the airline's hedging approach to fuel.

He also said the airline's cash position was at RM5.3 billion and that it was preparation towards meeting any economic downturn.

"We have a very good cash balance which allows us to take advantage of opportunities that may arise during a downturn," he added.

Azmil also said the airline was looking at formulating a dividend policy. It does not have a dividend policy at the moment.

"The dividend policy will be tied in to a balance sheet management policy."

MAS proposed a dividend payout of 2.5 sen per share recently. It would be its first dividend payout after its turnaround plan.

-- BERNAMA

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:banana:

I say ditch Airbus. Go for a mix of 747-8 and B787 :banana:.B747 freighter should also be considered. But I am sure MAS will still get Airbus with special offer as compensation following the A380 delays.


been reading the same news for the past 12 months...just another BS from MAS..next thing you know, another headline from MAS" MAS to announce new order in 4th quarter of 08":nuts:

anyway...would love to see the 773ER in MH livery!:cheers:

Biasa la GLC Malaysia...lembap cam kura2 thanx to red tape.

Biasa la GLC Malaysia...lembap cam kura2 thanx to red tape.

even kura-kura is not that slow:lol:

cheh, it was A320 punya story lah....:bash:, i tot wide body punya deal...baik tak payah cerita kalo beli kapal terbang kecik....
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
utusan.com.my

Airbus runding jual 50 pesawat kepada MAS

Oleh KHAIRUDDIN MD AMIN

KUALA LUMPUR 27 Mac – Pembuat pesawat, Airbus SAS, hari ini mengadakan perbincangan dengan Malaysian Airline System Bhd. (MAS) untuk menjual kira-kira 50 buah pesawat berbadan tirus kepada syarikat penerbangan nasional itu.

Ketua Pegawai Operasi Airbus SAS, John Leahy berkata, sekiranya MAS memilih pesawat A320 ataupun A321, syarikat penerbangan kebangsaan itu akan memperolehnya pada tahun 2011.

‘‘Namun ia boleh menyewanya daripada syarikat penyewa pesawat pada tahun 2009 atau 2010 (berikutan tempahan yang banyak diterima oleh pembuat pesawat itu).

‘‘Kami mencadangkan penjualan kira-kira 50 buah pesawat. Kami menyerahkan cadangan terkini kepada lembaga pengarah (MAS) hari ini,’’ katanya kepada pemberita selepas menandatangani perjanjian pembelian 10 buah pesawat tambahan A330-300 antara AirAsia X dan Airbus SAS, di sini hari ini.

Semalam, Pengarah Eksekutif MAS, Tengku Datuk Azmil Zaharuddin Raja Abdul Aziz berkata bahawa syarikat penerbangan kebangsaan itu akan mengumumkan rancangan pembelian sehingga 55 buah pesawat baru dalam masa terdekat.

Dianggarkan harga katalog bagi sebuah pesawat A320 atau A321 ialah kira-kira AS$80 juta (RM254 juta).

Bagi urus niaga pembelian pesawat, nilai pembelian tidak digunakan, sebaliknya terma harga katalog digunakan sebagai panduan kasar harga sesebuah pesawat.

Airbus SAS dijangka mendapat persaingan daripada Boeing yang ingin mengetengahkan pesawat B737-800 dan B737-900 bagi menggantikan B737-400 yang digunakan oleh syarikat penerbangan kebangsaan ketika ini.

Mengenai penghantaran pesawat A380 yang ditempah MAS, Leahy berkata, ia akan dilakukan tidak lama lagi.

‘‘Anda perlu mengemukakan soalan ini kepada MAS mengenai masa penghantaran yang mahu dilakukan,’’ jelasnya.

Airbus makes fresh proposal to MAS

KUALA LUMPUR: Airbus has submitted an updated proposal to Malaysia Airlines (MAS) for the sale of about 50 single-aisle A320 and A321 aircraft worth an estimated RM11bil.

Airbus chief operating officer for customers John Leahy said he had discussions with MAS yesterday for the sale of the aircraft that currently make up 60% of the market in the Asia-Pacific.

“It is an ideal replacement for their single-aisle fleet and they told us that they would be making a decision soon,” he said after signing an agreement with AirAsia X yesterday.

“It would be in the neighbourhood of 50 aircraft (for MAS), some would be firm (contract), some would be options,” he said, adding that each aircraft sold for US$70mil to US$80mil.

Leahy said an initial proposal had been submitted for some time with discussions already having taken place and that he merely submitted an updated proposal yesterday.

When pressed on how soon the deal would be closed, he said it was up to the airline to comment on that.

Leahy said if the A320s were bought by MAS and if it wanted the aircraft early, leasing companies would be able to provide it as soon as next year, with the manufacturer being able to provide the aircraft by 2011.

On the delay in delivery of the A380s to MAS, he said Airbus was hopeful something would be announced in the near future and that there was no discussion on cancelling the order.

Boeing!! Where are you!!

Anyway, A320 is to replace the B737.55 I guess?

And another 50 wide body aircraft?

It looks like this is for Airbus to win all.

It also seems like Airbus is also trying to pull a double whammy on MH. On the subject of the A380, discussions will no doubt also bring in the A350.

SIA will receive its 3rd A380 and scheduled to fly Tokyo on May...and later this year Qantas and Emirates will get their first...and MAS? still repeating same statement; 'we are under discussion with Airbus'...gee...is this the way MAS doing business? bcoz from what i've learn....in business, decision has to be done fast. MAS only smugging with their 'profit' (after selling HQ and aircrafts)....

plz Tony, i pray for AirAsia success..and hope one day your company can 'buy' MAS and kick MAS board members' ass out from their office...:gaah:

MAS to buy 55 Boeing planes for S$4.2b

The planes will help the airline bolster profits under its recovery plan. -AFP

Mon, Mar 31, 2008
AFP

KUALA LUMPUR - NATIONAL carrier MALAYSIA Airlines has agreed to purchase 55 narrow-body aircrafts from the US-based Boeing for RM9.6 billion (S$4.2 billion) a news report said on Monday.

The Boeing 737-800 series costs about US$70 million each but Malaysia Airlines, being a bulk buyer, could receive a discount on the price, The Edge Financial Daily said, citing sources from the industry.

It said the national carrier would probably seal the deal for the Boeing planes, ending months of speculation on which plane manufacturer it would choose for its aircraft acquisition program to replace its existing fleet.

The airline opted for Boeing due to technical reasons, the report said.

It said the planes would also help Malaysia Airlines achieve record profits under its recovery plan. It broke back into the black last year.

The French-based Airbus last Thursday had also submitted an updated proposal to supply the airline with about 50 narrow-body aircrafts - A320s and A321s - for a list price of about US$70 to US$80 million each.

Malaysia Airlines is expected to make an announcement on the deal soon, an official said. -- AFP

^^This has also been updated in MAS Wikipedia entry.

55 B737-800 on orders :banana:.

Next...B787 and B747-8 :banana::banana:

The article from the Edge...

http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_2dacf530-cb73c03a-83df1400-5c8ce503

isn't the b737-800 a small plane??????why do they neeeed so many of it??are they planning to replace all the b737-400 with this b737-800 and then sell of all the b737-400??????they should have ordered the b787 dreamliner......sigh~~...when will they ever receive their a380??????????....still no news...

SIA will receive its 3rd A380 and scheduled to fly Tokyo on May...and later this year Qantas and Emirates will get their first...and MAS? still repeating same statement; 'we are under discussion with Airbus'...gee...is this the way MAS doing business? bcoz from what i've learn....in business, decision has to be done fast. MAS only smugging with their 'profit' (after selling HQ and aircrafts)....

plz Tony, i pray for AirAsia success..and hope one day your company can 'buy' MAS and kick MAS board members' ass out from their office...:gaah:

hahax...yah....the a380 issue is just getttttting too long......mas should have purchased more bigger aircrafts.....they should not have purchased the b737-800.....wasted//...

isn't the b787-800 a small plane??????why do they neeeed so many of it????they should have ordered the b787......sigh~~...when will they ever receive their a380??????????....still no news...


dude, 787 is big lah! go and check wiki...

but of coz not as big as A380...in fact, MAS actually doesn't need A380 too much...6 is OK.(most airliners buy A380 for their company's profile only) the wide body of 777/787/A330/A350 is actually much needed for any major airliners....

55 B737-800 on orders :banana:.


why MAS buy too many B737?.....is that to compete with AirAsia?....plz lah MAS, you rival is SIA! not AirAsia!!:bash:

isn't the b737-800 a small plane??????why do they neeeed so many of it????they should have ordered the b787 dreamliner......sigh~~...when will they ever receive their a380??????????....still no news...

I don't know, but then their 737-400 fleets (i think they got 37 planes) are quite old already and fuel guzzler as well...these planes supposed to serve short haul/ regional flights...

Remember, this 55 planes order is just for narrow-body models, i think MAS did say they want to buy both narrow body and wide body models also...

http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_2dacf530-cb73c03a-83df1400-5c8ce503

Just my 2 cents :)

Let Arkdiver explain la..hehe..we need experts to demystify MAS' decision.

dude, 787 is big lah! go and check wiki...

but of coz not as big as A380...in fact, MAS actually doesn't need A380 too much...6 is OK.(most airliners buy A380 for their company's profile only) the wide body of 777/787/A330/A350 is actually much needed for any major airliners....

sorrrry..typed wrongly...it should be b737-800...thanks for alerting me..!......

hmm...imagine....what if tony fernadez were to purchased a b747-400 for airasia????wow...just imagine how will the airasia b747-400 look like..the whole exterior of the aircraft would be red...hahax...!.....air asia should not just remain as a budget airline.....they should try to grow....expand......fight with mas....be a rival to mas...............

SIA will receive its 3rd A380 and scheduled to fly Tokyo on May...and later this year Qantas and Emirates will get their first...and MAS? still repeating same statement; 'we are under discussion with Airbus'...gee...is this the way MAS doing business? bcoz from what i've learn....in business, decision has to be done fast. MAS only smugging with their 'profit' (after selling HQ and aircrafts)....

plz Tony, i pray for AirAsia success..and hope one day your company can 'buy' MAS and kick MAS board members' ass out from their office...:gaah:

actually SIA received their third A380 early this month...with the three A380 in ther fleet, it enable them to fly SIN-LHR which made it debut at LHR last 2 weeks ( 18/3/08).

Third A380 Rego - 9V-SKC

somehow i do think MH will keep the 6 A380s order and will get huge compensation for it...so the widebody i think will go to Airbus for their A350...with huge discount from Airbus offcourse:)

A350 will come into the scene quite late. 2012-2013. B787 already developed but with 600 firm orders...the waiting list would be long too.Maybe MAS get mix of both aircraft?

need to remember that MH's 777 could still be in service for at least another 10years...so the order could swing either ways...regardless the 787 and A350 EIS
widebody order could be a very interesting one...here's the order...( i made these all up)

Order 1
MAS to keep the A380 order and will get huge discount for another few aircraft...so MAS will have ..say 6+2 order for A380...and will order combination of 777-300ER and 787

Order 2
MAS to keep A380 order and will get huge discount for the A350 order....and still will order 777-300ER for their 744 replacement..

i have another 3rd one...but since MH announced that they will order Boeing 737NG's and not A320/A321 for the narrowbody order, the 3rd order wont even materialized at all..hehe

just my RM0.02

MAS picks narrow-body Boeing planes

by Jose Barrock
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com


KUALA LUMPUR: National carrier Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) has agreed to purchase 55 narrow-body planes from US-based Boeing Co, sources said.

The development puts an end to months of speculation on which plane manufacturer MAS would opt for as it embarks on its aircraft acquisition trail after recovering from years of losses. Apart from Boeing, the other manufacturer in talks with MAS was France-based Airbus SAS.

Industry officials said that the entire deal could be worth more than US$3 billion (RM9.6 billion) assuming each of the plane costs about US$70 million. But purchasers such as MAS being bulk buyers of planes get huge discounts based on the specification for the planes.

It is learnt that MAS would probably sign up for the Boeing 737-800 series and an announcement is likely to be made as early as today. Sources said the final approvals for the purchase came a few days ago after which the management started ironing out the details.

It is said that MAS opted for Boeing due to technical reasons and felt that the planes would fit into its strategy of achieving record profits under the Business Turnaround Plan (BTP) 2.

In the BTP 2 document, MAS has stated that it wants a fleet of narrow-body planes with higher seat factor and a longer reach to help the carrier carry passengers throughout Asia, especially South Asia and the Far East, which are its primary target markets.

The narrow-body planes became popular due to low-cost carriers which use the aircraft effectively in their strategy of covering short distances with quick turnaround times. The narrow-body planes have evolved over the years with a flexible seat factor that can be anywhere between 110 and 190 seats per plane.

The 737-series is Boeing’s fleet of narrow-body planes while the Airbus version is the A320s.

“The decision is significant for MAS because it involves a huge capital commitment for the carrier and also is vital in achieving the objectives of its BTP 2. It will also help the airline fend off stiff competition from low-cost carriers such as AirAsia,” said an analyst.

The national carrier has been in negotiations to acquire the 55 narrow-body aircraft for some time now but had not given any indication on which manufacturer it would opt for — Airbus or Boeing.

In the past few months, the attention has always been on MAS’ negotiations with Airbus over the delivery of the A380s, which has been delayed. At one time, speculation was rife that MAS could opt to go with Airbus for the narrow bodies in return for taking up the A380s at a much later date.

But MAS managing director Datuk Idris Jala effectively rendered such speculation redundant as he had stressed that they were still looking at the A380s.

But with MAS opting for Boeing to fulfil its narrow-body planes does not mean that Airbus is not in the picture for future plane orders. MAS plans to purchase 50 wide-body aircraft which it still has not firmed up yet.

This announcement of a fleet expansion exercise comes on the back of the national carrier announcing record financials in its 60-year history, and turning the corner in the last financial year.

MAS almost collapsed due to cash flow problems in 2005. In December that year, Idris took over as managing director, came out with a BTP 1 that effectively saw MAS lift itself out of its financial problems.

MAS posted a net profit of RM851.4 million on the back of RM15.3 billion in revenue for the year ended December 2007. For the corresponding period a year earlier, the national carrier suffered a net loss of RM136.4 million from RM13.5 billion in revenue.

Order 1
MAS to keep the A380 order and will get huge discount for another few aircraft...so MAS will have ..say 6+2 order for A380...and will order combination of 777-300ER and 787

Order 2
MAS to keep A380 order and will get huge discount for the A350 order....and still will order 777-300ER for their 744 replacement..



MAS should order A320 instead, since they can lease the aircraft to AirAsia if AA is in short...and AirAsia can order more widebody and vise versa, MAS can lease from them if MAS is in short...

now MAS has money in their hand, but less aircraft..and how they can expend their destination without enough aircraft until 2013?...

btw, does MAS has enough aircraft for their future operation..?kalau cukup...it's ok lah if they receive those planes late....no need to hurry...

MAS should order A320 instead, since they can lease the aircraft to AirAsia if AA is in short...and AirAsia can order more widebody and vise versa, MAS can lease from them if MAS is in short...

now MAS has money in their hand, but less aircraft..and how they can expend their destination without enough aircraft until 2013?...

btw, does MAS has enough aircraft for their future operation..?kalau cukup...it's ok lah if they receive those planes late....no need to hurry...

to me..i want the other way round...since TF order lots of A320...they could make money by leasing it to MAS ( wishful thinking kan?:lol:)..

perhaps MAS can lease few more A330-200 to wait for those new widebody to enter service...

anyway...this order is still a good news...regardless the type..though i prefer the A320

^^Yalor..I think A320 would be good for narrow body coz it has better range than B737. I think MAS was pleased with their experience with all 37 B737-400 plus dun need to train maintenance for A320.

Does anybody know what type of aircraft (and how old) are used on the route between KL and Beijing? I think it was an Airbus?

Last year I flew from KUL to PEK on the service that leaves KUL just after midnight. The flight crew were great- - the plane was shocking though! So old, the engines made a certain noise I had never heard before -- thats why I'm interested.

I've flown MAS three other times with fantastic aircraft.

Does anybody know what plane that would have been? Quite a scary flight.

Wikipedia entry on MAS updated.

It says MAS has 35 firm orders for B737-800 with 20 options.

Does anybody know what type of aircraft (and how old) are used on the route between KL and Beijing? I think it was an Airbus?

Last year I flew from KUL to PEK on the service that leaves KUL just after midnight. The flight crew were great- - the plane was shocking though! So old, the engines made a certain noise I had never heard before -- thats why I'm interested.

I've flown MAS three other times with fantastic aircraft.

Does anybody know what plane that would have been? Quite a scary flight.

MAS use its A330 planes for South Asia(India) and East Asia(China) destinations.High chance MAS uses Airbus to Beijing.

So far, MAS planes that show age are the B737-400 and A330.The B777 and B747-800 are relatively new.

MAS use its A330 planes for South Asia(India) and East Asia(China) destinations.High chance MAS uses Airbus to Beijing.

Do you know how old that aircraft could have been -- or what the oldest in service is? There weren't even in flight entertainment.

Do you know how old that aircraft could have been -- or what the oldest in service is? There weren't even in flight entertainment.

AFAIK,the A330s have the portable version of MAS iSelect entertainment system. The same system used by KLM and Air France.Only the B737-400 do not have entertainment system MAS fleet have an average age of 11 years.The A330 and B737-400 are the older and have not been refurbished unlike the B747-800 and B777 that have been refurbished.I do not know how old is the A330 but I believe it was procured in the early 90's. I am sure experts like fairul and Arkdiver will clarify.

guys..forget the narrow body order...the A380 is here:cheers:



31 Mar, 2008
MALAYSIA AIRLINES TO BUY UP TO 55 BOEING 737-800 AT USD 4.2 BILLION, TAKES DELIVERY OF A380 IN 2011

Subang: Malaysia Airlines today announced its narrowbody fleet acquisition plan which saw the national carrier ordering up to 55 B737-800 aircraft. The national carrier will also take delivery of 6 A380-800 in 2011. Managing Director/ CEO, Dato’ Sri Idris Jala said, “Under our Business Transformation Plan, we are embarking on our network expansion to transform into the World’s Five Star Value Carrier.

“I am very excited with these developments as these new fleets will both form a strong platform for Malaysia Airlines to profitably grow. The deliveries will not happen for a few years yet, when the weakness in the global economy should be less of a concern. We have placed a firm order for 35 B737-800 with an option for another 20 aircraft. The total cost of the 55 aircraft is USD 4.2 billion at list prices.

“We expect to take delivery of the first aircraft from September 2010 onwards, which will be used to replace our existing B737-400 fleet and to allow us to expand to points which were not previously economically viable.” Malaysia Airlines also have the option to swap the B737-800 to the larger B737-900.

He also said, “These aircraft will be used mainly for the ASEAN region, including the domestic sector in Malaysia and the fast growing economies of China and India. Clearly, we are now gearing ourselves to benefit from the growth of this region which is projected at around 6 percent per annum.

“As our aim is to ensure that the aircraft for the core network will always be the latest in terms of technology, we will likely partially purchase the B737-800 on our own and partially lease them as that would give us the flexibility to manage our balance sheet and financing commitments, and to sell some of them when the timing is right.”

Jala also announced that Malaysia Airlines will take delivery of all 6 A380-800 in 2011, with the first aircraft to be delivered in January and the sixth in August. “After extensive discussions with Airbus and Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad, we have agreed on the terms for the delayed delivery of the 6 A380-800 aircraft ordered by PMB in 2003. The terms include an agreed amount of compensation for the delay.”

The 6 A380-800 aircraft was supposed to have been delivered from January 2007 to December 2008. Jala added, “I think today is a good day for Malaysia Airlines, Airbus and Boeing. We kept the A380 on terms that are win-win for us and Airbus. We placed narrowbody jet orders with Boeing. We are happy to work with both aircraft manufacturers.

“We are now looking at the widebody aircraft replacement and will intensify our discussions with the manufacturers. This is again an opportunity for both Airbus and Boeing to make their best pitch for our business. Malaysia Airlines is committed to expand its network for the medium and long haul market.”


Issued by: Media Relations Unit, Communications Division, Malaysia Airlines, Subang

I think the fact that MAS has acknowledged they are not cancelling A380 means there is definitely room for an A350 order.

It is just a moment of when they are going to order A350.

A380 IN YEAR 2011!!!!....GOSH..THAT'S KIND OF LONG!!..

isn't the b737-800 a small plane??????why do they neeeed so many of it??are they planning to replace all the b737-400 with this b737-800 and then sell of all the b737-400??????they should have ordered the b787 dreamliner......sigh~~...when will they ever receive their a380??????????....still no news...

Yes, it's definitely to replace the 737-400 (aka 734s), which are over 20yrs old (maybe even 30yrs!). The 734s were around way back when SQ was operating the A310s on the SIN-KUL and regional sector, and SQ has long replaced those with the 777s. So, you can see, the 734s are long overdue for retirement.

The 737-800 (or 738) seats 162 in a 2 class configuration and 189 in a one-class config. It competes with the A320, which Air Asia is operating.

The 787 Dreamliner on the other hand is mid-sized seating over 200 intended for medium to long haul - not suitable for MH's domestic hops between SIN-KUL, KUL-PEN etc unless there is terribly high demand.

MAS buys 35 planes
By B.K. SIDHU

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is buying 35 aircraft with an option for 20 more of the narrow body Boeing 737-800 which will cost the carrier a total of US$4.2bil.

The national carrier also decided that it still wants the super jumbo A380 although it would have to wait until 2011 for the aircraft to be delivered.

In a statement yesterday, MAS said a firm order had been placed for 55 B737-800 at the list price of US$4.2bil (RM13.39bil). It is unclear at this point whether the carrier would eventually get a discount on the large order.

But the order will put MAS in good stead as these aircraft are said to be more fuel efficient per passenger per mile than others. The short- to medium-range airplane has a fuel capacity of 6,875 US gallons, or 0.1387 gallons per passenger per mile, and can fly up to a range of 3,060 nautical miles.

MAS said it intends to use the aircraft for the Asean region, including the domestic sector and China and India.

“Clearly we are gearing ourselves to benefit from the growth of this region, which is projected at 6% per annum,” managing director/CEO Datuk Seri Idris Jala said in the statement.

Jala said aircraft for the airline's core network would always be the latest in terms of technology and “we will likely partially purchase the B737-800 on our own and partially lease them as that would give us the flexibility to manage our balance sheet and financing commitments and sell some of them when the timing is right.”

MAS first announced its fleet replacement plan last year. The airline currently has 111 planes in use, of which 90% is leased from its parent, Penerbangan Malaysia Bhd (PMB).

Chief executive officer Tengku Azmil Zahruddin was reported to have said that the airline had a healthy cash position of RM5.3bil to purchase aircraft.

MAS also has the option to swap the B737-800 for the larger B737-900 as part of its plan to transform MAS into the world’s “five-star value carrier''.

To Jala, the new fleet would form a strong platform for MAS to grow profitably. The aircraft are not expected to be delivered until the next few years when the global economic situation would be less of a concern.

The B737-800s are expected to be delivered from September 2010 onwards and would be replacing the airline's B737-400 fleet.

On the six A380-800, MAS said the first delivery was expected next January and the sixth in August 2011. Technical problems at Airbus have resulted in delays in the plane maker's delivery schedule.

Even Singapore Airlines, the first customer for the A380, got its first aircraft only late last year.

MAS was to have taken first delivery in January 2007 and the sixth in December. The statement did not say if MAS had been compensated for the delay.

But Jala believes it would be good to keep the A380 order although the airline could have cancelled it. Airbus claims that the A380 burns 17% less fuel per seat than other big aircraft, thus reducing the carbon footprint per passenger.

“We are now looking at wide body aircraft replacement and will intensify our discussions with the manufacturers.

“MAS is committed to expanding its network for the medium and long haul market,” Jala added.

April 01, 2008 11:59 AM

MAS Likely To Aircraft Purchase Via Combination Of Cash & Debt

KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines is likely to finance the purchase of 55 Boeing aircraft and six A380 through a combination of cash and debt, Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd said in a research note Tuesday.

-- BERNAMA

It is an unwritten policy in MAS flt ops that whichever fleet that does not fly into Europe and carry out ULH (ultra long haul) ops is certainly a kampong fleet. Unfortunately, it only happen in MAS and A330 fleet is the kampong and junior fleet in the whole MAS widebody operation. This is actually a retarded thinking (certainly mentally retarded by industry standard)

Airbus fleet also is actually a dumping ground for pilots who are in the wrong camp (politics issue) ,ex-airforce, ex-GA (general aviation), problem child etc..... Eventually these pilots will be transfered to B744/B777 after their "period of detention" is over.

Only MAS's Airbus is really sucks to fly as a pax, (same standard as Air India, BIMAN, Indian Airlines and all the honchos ........)
not sure about AK but certainly SQ, EK, CX and CI have a better product on their Airbuses compared to MAS.

I like the AVOD on MAS's B744/B777 even in EY class, however, its very unfortunate when kiblat's direction was removed from the latest sofware.

Aircraft order makes analysts upbeat on MAS
By DANNY YAP

PETALING JAYA: Analysts are upbeat on Malaysia Airlines' (MAS) prospects, as the national carrier has placed a confirmed order for 35 narrow-body B737-800 aircraft with an option for another 20 planes from Boeing Co.

The 55 planes, priced at US$76.4mil each, are to be delivered from September 2010 to end-2013, and will cost a total of US$2.9bil, after a 30% discount for bulk purchase.

A CIMB Research analyst said MAS had a well-conceived fleet renewal strategy. “The narrow body B738s fit perfectly in the airline’s strategy of focusing on key Asean markets like China and India, especially for short to medium-haul routes where MAS is most profitable on record.

“Also, the B738s are urgent replacement for its older planes that will bring about many other benefits such as lower maintenance cost, greater fuel efficiency, customer comfort and image,” he said.

The analyst said with the new planes, it was likely that MAS would introduce new destinations that were previously not economic to serve using the A330.

“Some of the destinations that were cancelled in the first half of 2006 under the airline’s restructuring plan, like Xian, Calcutta, Ahmedabad and Fukuoka, could be revived,” he said, adding that the new destinations were more viable with the B738.

Currently, MAS has 37 B737-400s and 14 A330s in its fleet.

“If all the older planes were replaced by new B738s, it would leave only four B738s for capacity growth,” said the analyst.

However, he said, new planes typically had fewer incidents of unscheduled downtime, enabling MAS to work the planes harder through increased flying hours.

The analyst also said since the B738s would only be delivered in about two years or so, MAS was likely to lease some B738s as a short-term bridge. “The short-term lease of a few B738s can help grow the airline’s network in the meantime,” he said, adding that some of these leased planes might be delivered by 2009.

Moreover, the analyst said, to further boost the airline’s prospects, MAS planned to take delivery of six A380 planes in 2011.

He said the A380s would likely be purchased by Penerbangan Malaysia Bhd and leased to MAS.

“MAS is an 'outperform' stock with an unchanged target price of RM6.70 based on a price-earnings target of eight times,” he said.

“Despite the risks posed by oil and potential weakening in demand, the national carrier offers compelling long-term valuations if it succeeds in reducing non-fuel structural costs as we expect.”

An OSK Research analyst said although the research house made no changes to its earnings forecast (despite the news), the 2010 start date for delivery meant that it had pushed MAS’ capital expenditure into the future, allowing it to pay more dividend in the short term.

“Dividend forecast has been raised to 10 sen and 15 sen for fiscal year ending Dec 31, 2009 (FY09) and FY10 respectively for a more decent yield.

“Fair value remains unchanged at RM5.30. Stripping out net cash per share of RM2.48, MAS is only trading at 3.8 times price-earnings ratio currently.”

MAS served a complaint for price fixing
by Ellina Badri
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com


KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Airline System Bhd has been served with a complaint filed in the United States District Court on allegations of price fixing.

In a statement yesterday, MAS it had, on March 26, through the service of process at its Los Angeles office, been served with the complaint in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, filed on behalf of a Dickson Leung, against MAS and eleven other airlines.

“The case involves allegations of price fixing on transpacific passenger fares and related surcharges. At this juncture, no infringement has been established. The recently served complaint does not make any mention of the quantum of damages sought against MAS. MAS is currently taking legal advice in relation to the complaint,” it said.

[QUOTE=Arkdriver;19377061]It is an unwritten policy in MAS flt ops that whichever fleet that does not fly into Europe and carry out ULH (ultra long haul) ops is certainly a kampong fleet. Unfortunately, it only happen in MAS and A330 fleet is the kampong and junior fleet in the whole MAS widebody operation. This is actually a retarded thinking (certainly mentally retarded by industry standard)

Airbus fleet also is actually a dumping ground for pilots who are in the wrong camp (politics issue) ,ex-airforce, ex-GA (general aviation), problem child etc..... Eventually these pilots will be transfered to B744/B777 after their "period of detention" is over.

I 100% agree!!!I think MAS should max the use of the A330 fleet for the Bangkok and jakarta sector.I am sick and tired of the 737 and of course the stupid tasteless box meals even the dogs would not eat it

What do they serve in the snackbox?

I recall it looks like a large tissue box.I also know this snackbos idea was taken from American airliners.

^^KL-Kuching.....Milo Kotak+Sandwich+Snikers

^^KL-Kuching.....Milo Kotak+Sandwich+Snikers

:nuts: ewwww.. on MAS!!

here's the snackbox...u just imagine la inside it..3 cold sandwiches..air kotak..apple n cadbury bites..

here's mine...for souvenir...the isi i mamam already:lol:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/payrol/DSC_0757.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/payrol/DSC_0758.jpg

waaa....you nak tunjuk you punya Nikon ke..? model apa?:D

waaa....you nak tunjuk you punya Nikon ke..? model apa?:D

hahah..wey got tunjuk..tak sengaja lor:lol: D40 only maa...by the way.i hate the snakc box:bash: bring back hot meal

This snackbox is disappointing. I red that the snackbox is still on trial basis on certain domestic/ASEAN regional flights. Hope they scrap this snekbok.

how many wide-bodied aircraft will MAS purchase?

Instead of serving the snack box might as well give me mc donalds /KFC or even voucher for the food court at KLIA.Kotak saja cantik buat apa silap silap kotak pun recycle punya.There are so many other ways cut cost!!!!MAS betul betul ingat semua orang sakai tak pernah fly.Next thing u know they want to buy new aircraft!!!Boeing pulak tu!!!

Instead of serving the snack box might as well give me mc donalds /KFC or even voucher for the food court at KLIA.Kotak saja cantik buat apa silap silap kotak pun recycle punya.There are so many other ways cut cost!!!!MAS betul betul ingat semua orang sakai tak pernah fly.Next thing u know they want to buy new aircraft!!!Boeing pulak tu!!!

lucky we have another alternative..Air Asia...i can buy as many nasi lemak as i want on board..tapaw also can..hehe

777, Business class
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/picaddict_1975/Planes/GCMAS4.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/picaddict_1975/Planes/GCMAS5.jpg

Seat control
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/picaddict_1975/Planes/GCMAS1.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/picaddict_1975/Planes/GCMAS2.jpg

Omelette breakfast
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/picaddict_1975/Planes/GCMAS3.jpg

wow

777, Business class
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/picaddict_1975/Planes/GCMAS4.jpg


MAS' business class seating looks nice..but when it comes to ratings, we even lose to South African Airways....we are not in the top 5:bash:

^^Red that some people say that MAS business class one generation behind Singapore Airline's.

^^well, people can say almost anything....but let the professionals do the judgement, the people :lol:

to be honest, SIA only got a wider seating...and that is not 'one generation' lah...

Singapore Airlines announced today it will launch 5th daily frequency to Shanghai and Double-daily service to Dubai.

Now I really lose hope for MAS :wallbash: :wallbash:

^^you lose hope now?...hehe, i had it months ago..

so, this news i picked up from other forumers...nothing to do with MAS, but i post here just to make you guys sakit hati :lol:

Cathay Pacific profits jump 72%

Cathay 747-400 plane
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44135000/jpg/_44135251_cathayplane_cath203.jpg
Cathay Pacific warned that 2008 would be a tougher year

Cathay Pacific Airways has reported a 72% rise in profits for 2007, but says conditions will be harder in 2008.

Cathay reported a net profit of $901.9m (£454m) for 2007, higher than expected and helped by the weak dollar and sales at Air China, in which it owns 18%.

Including its Dragonair subsidiary, Cathay Pacific carried 23.35m passengers last year, a rise of 28.5%.

But the company said 2008 would be more difficult, because of high fuel prices and a slowdown in the global economy.

"Any substantial slowdown in world economic activity would pose risks to anticipated passenger and cargo volumes and revenue," chairman Christopher Pratt said.

Dragonair, which focuses on mainland China, was taken over by Cathay in September 2006. Last year was its first contribution to annual profits.

source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7278658.stm

^^ Im very disappointed with MAS , especially after its ridiculous decision to buy 738 instead of A320 , with slow rise in frequency on many international lines caompared with SIngapoora Airlines n Cathay Pacific, even Thai .

MAS is proud of its 4-weekly Macau service by 738, Air Asia boasts 4 daily service by Airbus !!

Now, I already give up with MAS :down: Let's focus on Air Asia from now on :banana:

MAS still a favourite choice among air travellers

ALOR STAR: Malaysia Airline (MAS) is still a favourite choice among air travellers despite stiff competition from other airline companies especially the low-cost airlines.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) senior general manager (operations) Datuk Azmi Murad said the national carrier controlled 65% of the international flights and 35% of the domestic flights in the country.

“This shows that MAS is still a choice among travellers despite facing stiff competitions,” Azmi told newsmen after launching the Health and Safety Campaign 2008 organised by MAHB and MAS.

The campaign was to create safety awareness among MAHB and MAS personnel at the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport in Kepala Batas.

Azmi said the Low Cost Carrier Terminal would be expanded to cater to the increased passenger load and accommodate more low-cost airlines that had expressed interest to set up their bases in the country.

Low-cost airlines currently operating out of the terminal are Air Asia, Air Asia Thailand, Air Asia Indonesia, Tiger Airways and Cebu Pacific.

Azmi said the terminal recorded a total of 7.7 million passengers last year and would hit the 9.7 million mark before the end of this year.

He said that the terminal had a maximum capacity of 10 million passengers and an expansion project would be completed between nine and 12 months' time which could increase the maximum capacity to 15 million passengers.

MAS is proud of its 4-weekly Macau service by 738, Air Asia boasts 4 daily service by Airbus !!

Now, I already give up with MAS :down: Let's focus on Air Asia from now on :banana:

very obvious that MAS is more interested in competing with AirAsia rather than making their existance for international route(long haul) stronger. MAS withdraw destinations which they tot unprofitable but when they see airasia fly successfully in that route, they will restart their operation there....KUL-Macau is the best example for that...

and i believe from 2010 onward when airasia X fly to nagoya and fukuoka...MAS will follow suit...:bash:

well, since my 1st flight with airasia to jakarta on last january...i'm so happy to see airasia getting stronger day by day (despite its RM6 ribena:nuts:)

Too early to judge MAS' future despite intense competition from other airlines.

Business Turn Around & Transformation Plan. The plan looks clever & at the moment seems to make a lot of sense. Let's see how the story unfolds

When Idris Jala & his team took over, the company had poor sales, high cost, and were loosing out to competition. The competition, mainly SQ had newer a/c, with better seats, better in flight entertainment, better service & were really kicking MAS ass.

How to remain competitive, MAS did not have cash for new a/c, new seats, better in flight entertainment, food contracts with caterers were signed, changing them big compensations, it all boiled down to not enough money.

I like the way MAS begin its business diversity drive. They knew they could not compete in the passenger market. They begin to look for alternate means to reap in much needed revenue. The solution was E & M (Engineering and Maintenance aka MRO), human capital development & freight.

E & M is now making money, a lot more then before. Many a/c are being refurbished (mainly 747-200); and many foreign airlines conduct maintenance in subang now days. MAS always have had the manpower & facilities to be a regional E & M power house, they seem to be in right path. Their good service/safety record has helped MAS E & M to brand them as a reliable & cost effective. E & M is now conducting maintenance, refurbishment, & repairs for many airlines. Did anyone remember they signed MOU of JV with Qantas recently? I always believe that MAS MRO complex in Subang is the second best in SEA. Some said Bangkok is second, some said Manila, i dont have figure, but i strongly believe that at least we can rank ourselves in third place because MNL is not that very big (can't be bigger than MAS) when it comes to MRO, unlike what Pinoy forumers in SSC always mentioned.

Human capital development. Everyone has heard about how good mas cabin crew are. They are good because they are trained well. MAS has used this to market their cabin crew training. A few airlines (From India,China, The middle east & Africa) are now having their cabin crew trained in MAS in Malaysia or in their respective countries. E & M has also started training other airline personnel. Our simulators, especially the F-50 & 737 are being leased out to foreign airlines. There are only 3 F-50 sims still operational in the world. 737 sim are being used a lot by the All Nippon Crew. Not forgetting MAS a330-200 and 300 sims. Garuda and air asia X leased it from MAS. Garuda sent their pilots for a330 type rating in Malaysia. Garuda also just registered their cadet pilots in APFT ( in Kota Bharu airport, although this has nothing to do with MAS, but at least they helped our local aviation by promoting our flight skool).

MAS cargo has also been expanded & is profitable. Its common knowledge that MAS 74 cargo fleet is more profitable then passenger configuration.

The thing is, these measures required very little investment from within but reaped in a lot of money. Money from secondary businesses is now being channeled for new a/c, with better seats & in-flight entertainment. This is how MAS plans to be competitive in the future, its stand that refurbishing old a/c would only cost too much because in the end you would have to buy new planes anyway, weather the storm, & when you can afford it, go out & get new planes & get ahead of the competition. Concentrate on what would improve service but not cost to much, cabin crew, MH hospitality & many others.

They raised money from within the company, found a competitive edge, & now have money to take the fight to the passenger industry that they were falling behind.

About the A330 that sucks :

MAS got those plane brand new from Airbus SAS.Ordered the A330 after Thai Airways but delayed taking the aircraft due to some problems with its composite reverser system.Except for 9M-MKR and 9M-MKS which are leased and the A330-200s,the rest are owned and peculiar to MAS.9M-MKB was written off due to chemical spillage in the aircrafts belly.

Its just that in MAS,the A330 fleet is one of the most forgotten and unglamorous fleet and the management isnt doing any product enhancement for the fleet until they get a new replacement,such a pity though. MAS got them new but due to political scenario in flt ops, they were/are the forgotten fleet. Technically. A330 is the backbone of many successful airlines in the world due to cheaper operating cost and bean counters love them very much except bean counters in MAS (kena cucuk hidung or become 'YES SIR' type)

EK, EY, CX, KA, TG, AK (just to name a few) are major Airbus user and they made the right choice and they know they are on their way printing money.

And as of for now they dont have 738 to Macau, in fact no 738 at all. They will only start receiving the plane in 2 years time. They once leased a 738 but for few months only.

we have no problem if MAS is seeking money from its technical services or anthing under their pants. the problem is...when MAS is one on one 'fighting' with airasia.

i beleive you have been googling around in other threads talking about airliners and guess what SIA is the hottest topic. even in vietnam forum they talk about SIA...none of them mention about MAS. so, what it is about?....it is about publicity given to the peoples.....the passengers..the main profit source of any airliners.

i still remember in 2003-2005, almost everyweek...there was MAS advertisment in TIME magazine, and NatGeo too...that was when MAS loosing money. but still, they kept their brandname 'alive'.

but now...MAS got cash in their pocket....they better focusing on ads in international TVs....just look at how famous our 'truly asia' tagline...it is about to sell your product. and to sell your product, make people know what's the best you already have...not what you got under your pants...or what you will have in the near future...

Ads cannot really buy you recognition. It has to be built up.

Unfortunately for MH, it has been suffering abit of mixed identity these days.

Singapore Airlines is now abandoning the leisure economy passenger and heading for the premium market (see its B777-300ER/A380 cabins). And it seems to be working, almost foregoing the short-haul market of leisure travellers and keeping short haul routes for business-orientated passengers.

MH has a few choices.

Go head on with AirAsia and try to be a low fare airline with frills
OR abandon the mass-market and go premium, with a consolidated route network, smaller fleet BUT setup a real low-cost offshoot to eat LCC competition
OR focus on being a kangaroo route airline to establish itself with Europeans and Australians alike before SQ/TG/EK/EY/QF/VA/JQ grab whatever market that's left

My ideas aren't original, but in this business, it is what works that counts.

don't underestimate the power of advertisement...:yes:

btw, just for your info, MAS under Mr. Jala aims to be a '5-Star Airline with Low Cost Price'. do you get it?....again, it is competing with AirAsia. MAS seems to fly whereever AirAsia goes, but with a little bit premium standard. so the answer that MAS would be is ...your 2nd choice...

but where MAS wants to go for its new destinations, nobody knows...but it is clear that MAS is interested going to China or India. the destinations which airasia already eyes into...MAS will never take a risk expanding into europe or america....they are just too afraid i guess....no demand, they said...

MAS arrival guide to KLIA

wZxOmFCiyAs

Probably the best arrival guide ever :).With Asha Gill!!!

Too early to judge MAS' future despite intense competition from other airlines.

Business Turn Around & Transformation Plan. The plan looks clever & at the moment seems to make a lot of sense. Let's see how the story unfolds

When Idris Jala & his team took over, the company had poor sales, high cost, and were loosing out to competition. The competition, mainly SQ had newer a/c, with better seats, better in flight entertainment, better service & were really kicking MAS ass.

How to remain competitive, MAS did not have cash for new a/c, new seats, better in flight entertainment, food contracts with caterers were signed, changing them big compensations, it all boiled down to not enough money.

I like the way MAS begin its business diversity drive. They knew they could not compete in the passenger market. They begin to look for alternate means to reap in much needed revenue. The solution was E & M (Engineering and Maintenance aka MRO), human capital development & freight.

E & M is now making money, a lot more then before. Many a/c are being refurbished (mainly 747-200); and many foreign airlines conduct maintenance in subang now days. MAS always have had the manpower & facilities to be a regional E & M power house, they seem to be in right path. Their good service/safety record has helped MAS E & M to brand them as a reliable & cost effective. E & M is now conducting maintenance, refurbishment, & repairs for many airlines. Did anyone remember they signed MOU of JV with Qantas recently? I always believe that MAS MRO complex in Subang is the second best in SEA. Some said Bangkok is second, some said Manila, i dont have figure, but i strongly believe that at least we can rank ourselves in third place because MNL is not that very big (can't be bigger than MAS) when it comes to MRO, unlike what Pinoy forumers in SSC always mentioned.

Human capital development. Everyone has heard about how good mas cabin crew are. They are good because they are trained well. MAS has used this to market their cabin crew training. A few airlines (From India,China, The middle east & Africa) are now having their cabin crew trained in MAS in Malaysia or in their respective countries. E & M has also started training other airline personnel. Our simulators, especially the F-50 & 737 are being leased out to foreign airlines. There are only 3 F-50 sims still operational in the world. 737 sim are being used a lot by the All Nippon Crew. Not forgetting MAS a330-200 and 300 sims. Garuda and air asia X leased it from MAS. Garuda sent their pilots for a330 type rating in Malaysia. Garuda also just registered their cadet pilots in APFT ( in Kota Bharu airport, although this has nothing to do with MAS, but at least they helped our local aviation by promoting our flight skool).

MAS cargo has also been expanded & is profitable. Its common knowledge that MAS 74 cargo fleet is more profitable then passenger configuration.

The thing is, these measures required very little investment from within but reaped in a lot of money. Money from secondary businesses is now being channeled for new a/c, with better seats & in-flight entertainment. This is how MAS plans to be competitive in the future, its stand that refurbishing old a/c would only cost too much because in the end you would have to buy new planes anyway, weather the storm, & when you can afford it, go out & get new planes & get ahead of the competition. Concentrate on what would improve service but not cost to much, cabin crew, MH hospitality & many others.

They raised money from within the company, found a competitive edge, & now have money to take the fight to the passenger industry that they were falling behind.

About the A330 that sucks :

MAS got those plane brand new from Airbus SAS.Ordered the A330 after Thai Airways but delayed taking the aircraft due to some problems with its composite reverser system.Except for 9M-MKR and 9M-MKS which are leased and the A330-200s,the rest are owned and peculiar to MAS.9M-MKB was written off due to chemical spillage in the aircrafts belly.

Its just that in MAS,the A330 fleet is one of the most forgotten and unglamorous fleet and the management isnt doing any product enhancement for the fleet until they get a new replacement,such a pity though. MAS got them new but due to political scenario in flt ops, they were/are the forgotten fleet. Technically. A330 is the backbone of many successful airlines in the world due to cheaper operating cost and bean counters love them very much except bean counters in MAS (kena cucuk hidung or become 'YES SIR' type)

EK, EY, CX, KA, TG, AK (just to name a few) are major Airbus user and they made the right choice and they know they are on their way printing money.

And as of for now they dont have 738 to Macau, in fact no 738 at all. They will only start receiving the plane in 2 years time. They once leased a 738 but for few months only.

Agreed :okay: except the A320 because I am not the expert. From Business point of view, MAS is doing a good job. From a nearly bankrupt airline, and jump back to a back balance sheet, we have to give a credit to Idris Jala. People always compare MAS and AK, because they loved them so much! Honestly, why we compare? because we want MAS to be good. To be as good as AK. Just that we express in a more "spartan" way. People are familiar with Tony's way of saving a bankrupt airline to "everyone you can fly" airline. I think mainly because of media influences. However, Idris Jala did the same things as Tony; bring the back the profit from a bankruptcy or nearly bankruptcy. But no one fancy about Idris Jala. Some even scolded him that he is not qualified to be CEO because he is just an orang kampung from a jungle!:bash:

Back to the business issue, MAS identify that more new aircrafts enter the sky in near future, the market is oversupplied. I think this sounds sensible. Put it this way, with the new A380 and B787, and also emerging of the LCC, are entering the market after ASEAN open sky policy, the market will operate at over-capacity. But the demands are uncertained. Is the demand is growing as fast as the supply? No. SARS? Bird Flu? high oil price? or even subprime market crisis, those are the factors will affect the aviation market. However, it is kinda weird for me. I observed that the competition among the airliners are so tense and hard, major airlines are still expanding, such as SQ and BA. Normally, companies will try to shrink to maximise the profit, but it is different in aviation world. Back to reality, MAS are lacking behind. Rather then follow the steps of BA and SQ, MAS should diversify the business, which is what MAS is doing now. If not, MAS is bankrupted long time ago.

Malaysians try to pay more attention to MAS's food. They think that MAS should provide something 5 stars hot meal, based on their perception and the price they paid. However, given the high cost of providing 5 stars hot meal at short haul route, it is not business feasible. So, if i am Idris Jala, I will provide sandwic, not hot meal. Because if i know that if MAS is going to bankrupt again, the gov are not going to help MAS anymore. So, 5 star hot meal (bankrupt) or sandwic (profit), you choose one.

Maybe Malaysians are more particular about airline's food, but i feel that the white people are not that concerned about the food. They care more about the services. MAS has a large portion of non-Malaysian and non-Asian travellers. So MAS has to emphasis more in providing good services. Ask you guys a question, if the food is nice but the services are so suck, do you want to fly with the airline again? However, if the services are excellent but the food just so-so, do you still want to fly with the airline again? For me, comfortable and good services are important. That's why AK is doing the same thing, "no-frills". No one remember about AK food, but just remember low price and above average services that provided by AK. Malaysia Hospitality by MAS is a very good program. It adds more values for those international travellers, because the journey is always dull and boring. So friendly services are important to enhance the air travelling experience.

Arkdriver, your comment is highly welcomed and recommended. I would like to see more about this comments in the future, rather than reading those posts like "MAS is suck because of sandwic or Idris Jala do not know how to run MAS etc" :yes:

As you guys said,MAS is doing fine. It's just the inferiority complex we have with SIA :nuts:.

Agreed :okay: except the A320 because I am not the expert. From Business point of view, MAS is doing a good job. From a nearly bankrupt airline, and jump back to a back balance sheet, we have to give a credit to Idris Jala. People always compare MAS and AK, because they loved them so much! Honestly, why we compare? because we want MAS to be good. To be as good as AK. Just that we express in a more "spartan" way. People are familiar with Tony's way of saving a bankrupt airline to "everyone you can fly" airline. I think mainly because of media influences. However, Idris Jala did the same things as Tony; bring the back the profit from a bankruptcy or nearly bankruptcy. But no one fancy about Idris Jala. Some even scolded him that he is not qualified to be CEO because he is just an orang kampung from a jungle!:bash:

Back to the business issue, MAS identify that more new aircrafts enter the sky in near future, the market is oversupplied. I think this sounds sensible. Put it this way, with the new A380 and B787, and also emerging of the LCC, are entering the market after ASEAN open sky policy, the market will operate at over-capacity. But the demands are uncertained. Is the demand is growing as fast as the supply? No. SARS? Bird Flu? high oil price? or even subprime market crisis, those are the factors will affect the aviation market. However, it is kinda weird for me. I observed that the competition among the airliners are so tense and hard, major airlines are still expanding, such as SQ and BA. Normally, companies will try to shrink to maximise the profit, but it is different in aviation world. Back to reality, MAS are lacking behind. Rather then follow the steps of BA and SQ, MAS should diversify the business, which is what MAS is doing now. If not, MAS is bankrupted long time ago.

Malaysians try to pay more attention to MAS's food. They think that MAS should provide something 5 stars hot meal, based on their perception and the price they paid. However, given the high cost of providing 5 stars hot meal at short haul route, it is not business feasible. So, if i am Idris Jala, I will provide sandwic, not hot meal. Because if i know that if MAS is going to bankrupt again, the gov are not going to help MAS anymore. So, 5 star hot meal (bankrupt) or sandwic (profit), you choose one.

Maybe Malaysians are more particular about airline's food, but i feel that the white people are not that concerned about the food. They care more about the services. MAS has a large portion of non-Malaysian and non-Asian travellers. So MAS has to emphasis more in providing good services. Ask you guys a question, if the food is nice but the services are so suck, do you want to fly with the airline again? However, if the services are excellent but the food just so-so, do you still want to fly with the airline again? For me, comfortable and good services are important. That's why AK is doing the same thing, "no-frills". No one remember about AK food, but just remember low price and above average services that provided by AK. Malaysia Hospitality by MAS is a very good program. It adds more values for those international travellers, because the journey is always dull and boring. So friendly services are important to enhance the air travelling experience.

Arkdriver, your comment is highly welcomed and recommended. I would like to see more about this comments in the future, rather than reading those posts like "MAS is suck because of sandwic or Idris Jala do not know how to run MAS etc" :yes:

I had been optimistic on MAS for long time but when it announced to buy 737 planes- I totally lose my hope ! Sorry buddy- but What really makes an airline reputable anyway ? Big planes! Big planes !

It's like you booked a KUL-Jakarta flight on Air Asia and happily expecting to be on Airbus 320 - but then found that it's a QZ flight on 737 - how disparaging is that ? Not to look down on 737 but any normal frequent flyer would see it that way !

MAS can simply order 30 Airbus A320's instead of 55 Boeing 737's ( so no excuse of "financial problem" here ) . Every time I landed in Hong Kong or Bangkok all I found was a frail MAS B737 surrounded by Huge planes of Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, THAI , Emirates, Qatariah etc. To be honest I feel uneasy and any normal frequent flyers tend to look down on airlines that still use small aircrafts like 737 on its International lines :down:

I had been optimistic on MAS for long time but when it announced to buy 737 planes- I totally lose my hope ! Sorry buddy- but What really makes an airline reputable anyway ? Big planes! Big planes !

It's like you booked a KUL-Jakarta flight on Air Asia and happily expecting to be on Airbus 320 - but then found that it's a QZ flight on 737 - how disparaging is that ? Not to look down on 737 but any normal frequent flyer would see it that way !

MAS can simply order 30 Airbus A320's instead of 55 Boeing 737's ( so no excuse of "financial problem" here ) . Every time I landed in Hong Kong or Bangkok all I found was a frail MAS B737 surrounded by Huge planes of Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, THAI , Emirates, Qatariah etc. To be honest I feel uneasy and any normal frequent flyers tend to look down on airlines that still use small aircrafts like 737 on its International lines :down:

No offense. I am sure non of us know what exactly happening in MAS office. We just have their report on BTP and annual report to access the information. But how about daily operation? WE dont know.

It is unfair to say that you lose your hope because of purchasing of B737. What kind of statement is that? Will MAS perform better if MAS purchases 38 A380? or 50 A330? We have to consider the load factor. If the load factor is low, then why should MAS considering A330? Maintenance and operation cost? Expertise? Lots of factors have to be considered.

With all due respect, your statement seems that you like BIG things, BIG infrastructure without considering the scale of economic, the feasible of being survival in aviation market. I am sure that you dont want to pay the losses of MAS again from your pocket money. I dont think government is kindly enough to subsidy the losses. Let MAS make their own decisions. We are here talking about survival of MAS, the pride of Malaysian, not the luxury of personal satisfaction.

Airline's reputation does not come from the ownership of big and fancy planes. It is just merely a marketing strategy. Smart consumers like you and me should able to differentiate on that. Services, profitability and pleasant journey are the main factors that contribute to airlines reputation. We choose to travel with an airline, with the reason of "trusting" their ability to provide best safety, and also a comfortable journey, at affordable price. MAS is targeting the all the needs of a traveler, by promoting MH - Malaysian Hospitality, in order to differentiate itself from the traditional premium airlines. If an airlines reputation is credited from ownership of big planes and huge fleets, I think the name of American Airlines and Japan airlines should appear in Skytrax.

You can further comment about the purchasing of B737, with constructive arguments as your support, not just expressing your pride just for the sake of seeing big things. Give Idris Jala some credits, he has done a good job to bring back the profitability. If you think that you can manage to bring the MAS back to black at that situation, then your are free criticizing MAS.

^^ To answer all your questions: Why Air Asia , a low-cost airline, could make huge money by operating mainly huge planes ? I don't see load issue as a factor because Air Asia is operating 4-daily flights to Macau by A320 but MAS only operates 4-weekly flights by B737 ? :toilet: :toilet: That means there are huge demand for Macau flights but MAS doesn't know how to tap people to use them.

And if you look at my post, I never mentioned A330- all I mentioned was 180-seater Airbus A320 or bigger A321. I would be happier if MAS buys 10 Airbus A320/321's instead of 55 Boeing 737 :down:

^^ To answer all your questions: Why Air Asia , a low-cost airline, could make huge money by operating mainly huge planes ? I don't see load issue as a factor because Air Asia is operating 4-daily flights to Macau by A320 but MAS only operates 4-weekly flights by B737 ? :toilet: :toilet: That means there are huge demand for Macau flights but MAS doesn't know how to tap people to use them.

And if you look at my post, I never mentioned A330- all I mentioned was 180-seater Airbus A320. I would be happier if MAS buys 10 Airbus A320's instead of 55 Boeing 737 :down:

Air Asia and MAS are different. Both airlines target on different market. It is unfair to compare both of them because they have different product! Can you compare Orange and Apple?

As all of us know that MAS has a huge fleet of B737. Maintenance? MAS has a very good engineering services for B737. MAS doesnt have any A320. If MAS purchase A320, they need to spent more money on training the guys for maintenance of A320. Why I should buy A320 if I dont have the tool to repair A320 and I have the tool for B737? Here is the link of the MAS fleet.
http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/getdoc/11059e94-1863-44a5-b11e-393c2808ffd7/Seat-Plan.aspx

If both planes give about same amount of seat, and MAS have the huge workforce for maintenance of B737, then please enlighten me, what is your judgment that MAS should buy A320 instead of B737?

^^ You can't deny that A321, A320 have a "prestige" over B737. An A321/A320 planes in main airports worldwide suits comfortably with other planes in terms of size as it doesn't look "frail" among other aircrafts. Such kind of "prestige" is how millions of ordinary travellers like me and million others use to judge how great an airline is. People like me and you can't tell how to run an airline business but we can simply judge an airline as an ordinary user, from passenger's perspective.

Thanks to Mr Idris for helping MAS out of financial crisis but I don't see how Boeing 737 will help in its expansion to China and India http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080331/malaysia_airline.html?.v=1

And I don't see why MAS should enrich its 737 fleet with additional 55 planes ? Better buy 20-30 mixtures of B738 + A330 + Dreamliners plus training budget which totalled up to the same amount of buying 55 737's .

Okay my mistake I thought it's Boeing 737-400 ,I just checked about B737-800.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_737

If it's really 170-190 seater, then I can accept it. But I can't accept the purchase of 55 aircrafts !? Is that means MAS is not interested on Medium-haul and Long-haul lines anymore ?? :wallbash: :wallbash:

^^ You can't deny that A321, A320 have a "prestige" over B737. An A321/A320 planes in main airports worldwide suits comfortably with other planes in terms of size as it doesn't look "frail" among other aircrafts. Such kind of "prestige" is how millions of ordinary travellers like me and million others use to judge how great an airline is. People like me and you can't tell how to run an airline business but we can simply judge an airline as an ordinary user, from passenger's perspective.

Thanks to Mr Idris for helping MAS out of financial crisis but I don't see how Boeing 737 will help in its expansion to China and India http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080331/malaysia_airline.html?.v=1

And I don't see why MAS should enrich its 737 fleet with additional 55 planes ? Better buy 20-30 mixtures of B738 + A330 + Dreamliners plus training budget which totalled up to the same amount of buying 55 737's .

As you know the age of B737 is getting older than older. So, if you have a fleet of older B737s, what should you do?

If Boeing doesnt look "prestige" than "airbus", then our Sukhois can easily destroy most of the fighters in US Air Force!

Boeing doesnt only specialise in civilian planes, it is also good in defense and satelite system. I still remember MEASAT 1 & 2 are powered by Boeing.

So, "prestige" is not a problem here. People is just too facinated about Airbus because A380. MAS always seem as a rival for SIA because SIA did a very good job in promote and marketing their A380. WE, as malaysians, will feel a bit jealous and try to bash MAS because WE did not get the first A380. What's the point? B737 and A320 are about the same plane! Why so particular about the name of "Boeing" and "Airbus"? Did MAS gain more reputation or better load factor after purchasing A320? No one knows. Because we dont have enough data to speculate on that!

So Skyprince, please support your arguments with facts. Please convince all the readers here that MAS should get A320 instead of B737. I am happy to accept if you have provided a very good reason.

Okay my mistake I thought it's Boeing 737-400 ,I just checked about B737-800.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_737

If it's really 170-190 seater, then I can accept it. But I can't accept the purchase of 55 aircrafts !? Is that means MAS is not interested on Medium-haul and Long-haul lines anymore ?? :wallbash: :wallbash:

As we know that the ASIAN will soon overcrowded with more airplanes, due to emerging of LCCs like AirAsia, and Superjumbo jet A380. However, we do not know the exact forecast for demand. So, MAS is trying to build a solid foundation in order to minimise the risk. How? Diversify the business profile, concentrating on keeping MAS loyal customers and increase the profitability. With the returns, the money can be invested in expanding a new route that business feasible, which is MAS dropped before. MAS is interesting to expand, but it is not the time yet.

Okay my mistake I thought it's Boeing 737-400 ,I just checked about B737-800.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_737

If it's really 170-190 seater, then I can accept it. But I can't accept the purchase of 55 aircrafts !? Is that means MAS is not interested on Medium-haul and Long-haul lines anymore ?? :wallbash: :wallbash:

oi budak..ko tak tahu ke MAS ada 2 order...narrow body order ( already being announced) and the widebody order ( yet to be announced)..

Skyprince, be patient.

MAS is taking one step at a time. First they order b737-800 (orders convertible to 737-900 which is boeing equivalent to a321).

They NEVER SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT ORDER OTHER WIDE-BODIED AIRCRAFT. They're taking their time to evaluate 777 especially the 300 series, B 787, and a350.

Have some common sense. Mas will not operate A330, 772 and 747 forever. It's just they are taking their own time to evaluate each model, when you purchase aircraft it's like buying buses and lorries.

Current 734s in MAS has been in the fleet for almost 20 years. It's time to change. Mas has around 30++ 734s. IT'S TIME TO CHANGE.

I believe that you misunderstood that MAS orders narrow bodies in place of wide bodies. THAT IS NOT TRUE.

Mas order of 738 is TO REPLACE CURRENT 734s. The plane is too old. IT'S NOT LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO EXPAND THEIR NARROW BODY FLEET BY ADDING 738s TO EXISTING 734s fleet.

They are expanding. That's why total order including options will exceed current 30++ 734s. Meaning when all the planes arrive they will have better connectivity and higher frequency to profitable routes.

737, although not as canggih as A320s family, will still give MAS competitive advantage. They have built strong brand name is MRO for boeing families in Subang, why do they need to invest to retrain their engineer to airbus when they are already good at boeing?

I'm not going to start Boeing vs Airbus discussion again but it's good to have choice to fly either 738 or A320. Each has their own pros and cons.

MAS said they will announce orders of wide bodies in due time. So wait.

YES, You see SQ, EK, EY, TG flying their big boys to major airport. That is because DEMAND AND SUPPLY. MAS will fly their big planes if they can make profit out of it. Although the plane is small, as long as they made a profit nevermind what people say. SIZE DOES MATTER? yes and no. depends on situation.

Flying big planes unprofitably is a SHOW OFF. if MAS did that, and they record losses again, i'm sure you will disappoint because government need to use money to bail them out again. It's so hard to please you.

I'm more frustrated with your lack of understandings about airline business and comparing air asia with MAS rather than MAS is late in announcing their new fleet line-up.

oi budak..ko tak tahu ke MAS ada 2 order...narrow body order ( already being announced) and the widebody order ( yet to be announced)..

Fairul and Arkdriver, just a quick question. MAS is specialing in maintenance of boeing or airbus? Is that true that every type of aircraft has their personal team for maintenance? Can the guy ,who is specialise in B737, repair B747?

oi budak..ko tak tahu ke MAS ada 2 order...narrow body order ( already being announced) and the widebody order ( yet to be announced)..

Yo ! mane aku tau beb, lagipun dalam artikel tu pun dok kata 737-800 ni nak gune kat laluan China & India.

Kalau dia belum announce xpe no prob-- tapi kan lebih baik MAS anounce wide-body dulu !? Buat semua org mcm aku, dengilo & osh yg tak terlibat dlm airline matter ni jadi geram je ! :gaah::gaah:

Yo ! mane aku tau beb, lagipun dalam artikel tu pun dok kata 737-800 ni nak gune kat laluan China & India.

Kalau dia belum announce xpe no prob-- tapi kan lebih baik MAS anounce wide-body dulu !? Buat semua org mcm aku, dengilo & osh yg tak terlibat dlm airline matter ni jadi geram je ! :gaah::gaah:

I don't think MAS have decided on their selection in wide-body plane purchase, thus it is impossible for MAS to announce wide-body plane purchase first...

MAS reviewing fuel surcharge
Published: 2008/04/11




MALAYSIA Airlines (MAS) will review its fuel surcharge to help counter the effects of higher oil prices.

Managing director Datuk Seri Idris Jala said, however, it will strive to ensure that passengers are not unduly burdened and that the new charges will be in line with those imposed by its competitors.

He did not elaborate.

"We have been monitoring this situation closely. What we are trying to do here is come up with charges that will not hurt our passengers so much and, at the same time, look after our profit and loss," Idris told a news conference after Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat’s official
visit to MAS’ headquarters in Subang, Selangor, yesterday.






“As it is, our existing fuel surcharge only recovers up to 70 per cent of the actual fuel price increase. Apart from a fuel surcharge review, other alternatives are being sought to cut cost further,” he added.

MAS has also submitted a proposal to the government for a review of the current subsidy for rural air services in Sabah and Sarawak, which are operated by its wholly-owned subsidiary, MASwings.

“We have submitted our request to the government and discussions are ongoing. Our job here is simple: we want to reduce as much as possible the subsidy so that we don’t burden the public (taxpayers) and the government. We are working hard to run a tight ship,” Idris said. — By Anna Maria Samsudin

Kalau dia belum announce xpe no prob-- tapi kan lebih baik MAS anounce wide-body dulu !? Buat semua org mcm aku, dengilo & osh yg tak terlibat dlm airline matter ni jadi geram je ! :gaah::gaah:

wei, wei...jangan libatkan aku ek...actually, whatever kind/type of aircraft they have and will have doesn't matter, as long as the aircraft suit well to the destination where they wanna go...only what i'm afraid is...MAS is targetting AirAsia.

itu sahaja!

no i have nothing to do with MAS order mana aircraft dulu, ok

wei, wei...jangan libatkan aku ek...actually, whatever kind/type of aircraft they have and will have doesn't matter, as long as the aircraft suit well to the destination where they wanna go...only what i'm afraid is...MAS is targetting AirAsia.

itu sahaja!

no i have nothing to do with MAS order mana aircraft dulu, ok

i don't see a problem mas is targeting airasia and vice versa as long no dirty tactics, no government intervention. competition will bring the best in both of them and will benefit not only us consumer, but malaysia as well.

Fairul and Arkdriver, just a quick question. MAS is specialing in maintenance of boeing or airbus? Is that true that every type of aircraft has their personal team for maintenance? Can the guy ,who is specialise in B737, repair B747?

hoo..cannot. You need license to repair or even remove a bolt from a type of aircraft.

If a guy is license approved for B737..he can't repair an A320.

Fairul and Arkdriver, just a quick question. MAS is specialing in maintenance of boeing or airbus? Is that true that every type of aircraft has their personal team for maintenance? Can the guy ,who is specialise in B737, repair B747?

hoo..cannot. You need license to repair or even remove a bolt from a type of aircraft.

If a guy is license approved for B737..he can't repair an A320.

MAS hedges 40% of fuel at US$89 a barrel
By JACK WONG

KUCHING: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has hedged some 40% of its 2008 fuel requirements at US$89 a barrel, said chairman Datuk Dr Munir Majid.

He said the national carrier had also entered into some hedging contracts at US$95 per barrel for next year.

“The high oil price is worrying as fuel makes up one-third of our total operating costs. It is eating into our bottom line,” he said after the launch of MAS’ Project Pintar at SK Satria Jaya yesterday.

Crude oil prices soared to a record high of US$112 a barrel last week.

http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/4/15/business/b_03pilot.jpg
Captain Mohd Fauzi Aziz recounts his flying experience to the students of SK Satria Jaya

SK Satria Jaya is the 11th school nationwide and the first in Sarawak adopted by MAS in its project aimed at achieving academic excellence and developing human capital.

Munir said the airline’s management was very focused on its cost-cutting exercise.

”MAS achieved a profit of RM851mil for (the financial year) 2007, a record performance in its 60-year history,'' he said. “The airline has turned around because it is more efficient now.”

MAS had incurred losses of RM136mil in 2006.

The national carrier had achieved a profit margin of 6%, which was higher than that of most airlines, he said, adding that it had a very strong balance sheet, with cash reserves of some RM5bil.

On unit MASwings’ plan to replace its Fokker 50 aircraft with French-made ATR 72-500, he said orders had been placed for five aircraft, with an option to buy another five.

He said the first 70-seat ATR 72-500 aircraft would be delivered in September, the second in March next year and the last by 2009.

MASwings uses the Fokker 50 and Twin-Otter aircraft for its services in Sabah and Sarawak. The aircraft are leased from Penerbangan Malaysia Bhd.

Munir said 10 ATR 72-500 aircraft had also been ordered for another MAS unit, Firefly, with the option to purchase five more.

MAS, EgyptAir in code share pact


MALAYSIA Airlines (MAS) and EgyptAir have connected Kuala Lumpur and Cairo through their code-share cooperation, ensuring three weekly flights between the two nations.

MAS, in a statement in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, said flights from Kuala Lumpur will depart every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 12.40am and arrive in Cairo at 6.45am (local time).

Flights from Cairo will leave for Kuala Lumpur every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 3.30am (local time) and arrive at 8.40pm.

MAS Commercial director Datuk Rashid Khan said the direct flights to Cairo will be a magnet for tourists as well as businessmen, and that the airline was delighted to code-share with EgyptAir to meet these requests.

''

He said that over the past two years, MAS has built an extensive network with 25 airline partners - allowing its customers to connect to most destinations worldwide - and they hope to gain incremental value of RM70 to RM100 million this year from this enhanced network.

Moving forward, both airlines are expected to connect more destinations in Malaysia and Egypt. — Bernama