AK°/D7/FY/MH | Malaysia-Based Carriers

[hkskyline]

Medan airport is named new AirAsia hub
17 January 2011
The Jakarta Post

JAKARTA: Low-cost carrier Indonesia AirAsia announced Saturday that Medan's Polonia International Airport would serve as a new hub.

"Medan is a fast growing city. It is also represents a potential market for us, especially in terms of the number of passengers, and domestic as well as international flight routes that we can run from here," Indonesia AirAsia president director Dharmadi was quoted as saying by news portal kompas.com.

Polonia is the airline's fifth hub after Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta, Bandung's Husein Sastranegara, Surabaya's Juanda, and Bali's Ngurah Rai international airports.

Previously, the airline, which first flew to Medan in 2004, served six domestic and international destinations from the city, namely to Bandung, Surabaya, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Bangkok and Hong Kong.

[nazrey]

MAS opens new Glenmarie training centre
Published: 2010/01/24
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) together with CAE, a world leader in providing simulation and modelling technologies and integrated training solutions, has opened its new B738 simulation training centre in Glenmarie, Subang.

The centre, maintained and operated by CAE, features a CAE 7000 Series Boeing 737-800 Level D full-flight simulator (FFS) and a CAE Simfinity Boeing 737-800 Integrated Procedures Trainer (IPT) acquired from CAE in November 2009.

“Advanced flight simulators are essential for safe and efficient operations of airlines around the world," said Jeff Roberts, CAE Group President, Civil Simulation Products, Training and Services, in his opening speech. - Bernama

[koresh]

MH Boeing 777-2H6/ER



MH Boeing 737-4H6



MH Boeing 737-8FZ

[koresh]

Air Asia Airbus A320-216

[idiamindada]

Originally Posted by koresh

MH Boeing 737-8FZ

ah, i thought the leather seat is red colored….

[nazrey]

MAS still popular among Malaysians, overseas travellers
Published: 2011/01/31
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) (3786) has remained a popular airline for domestic and overseas destinations although it has gone through various challenges including stiff competition and rising operations cost in the airline industry.

"The efforts to transform MAS to become an international standard airline warrant that we make more than external changes like purchasing new aircraft and setting up the latest infrastructure," said MAS managing director cum chief executive officer Tengku Datuk Sri Azmil Zahruddin.

He said this when delivering a talk at the Inti Business Leadership Series held at the Inti International University recently.

Tengku Azmil described how they had to ensure that the company's restructuring plan brought in the desired results.

He also spoke of the various initiatives being implemented currently to strengthen MAS' position as a world class airline company.
"Our intention is to make MAS among the best employers in Malaysia, and towards this, we also need to ensure that we offer a service which is unique.

"We need to make sure the firm continues to be a leader and we offer various advantages to our staff. The-se are among our efforts to attract quality human capital," he said.

The Inti Business Leadership Series is a platform for the student community of Inti to meet and interact with leaders from the corporate sector as well as discuss and debate with them on current issues. - Bernama

[nazrey]

MAS weighing fuel surcharge on some routes
By Sharen Kaur Published: 2011/02/01
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...MAS31/Article/



MALAYSIA Airlines (MAS) (3786) has yet to decide on having fuel surcharges for some of its routes although it is concerned about rising jet fuel prices.

Managing director and chief executive officer Tengku Datuk Azmil Zahruddin said MAS is studying the situation as the levels of jet fuel prices is now close to its jet fuel hedge.

Jet fuel prices have breached the US$110 (RM306) per barrel mark. The impact on MAS is still minimal as it has 30 per cent of its fuel hedged at US$100 a barrel this year.

According to MIDF Research, the tolerance level of the industry is around US$117 to US$125 (RM358 to RM383) a barrel of jet fuel price.
"Higher fuel prices are never good for anyone except for some companies. It is something that concerns us and we have to factor that in, in terms of our operation.Maybankard 2 Cards. 2 is all you need. Find out more.

"We are monitoring the situation," Tengku Azmil said yesterday in Sepang, Selangor, at the signing of an agreement between Malaysia Airlines Cargo Sdn Bhd (MASkargo) and Loedige Industries.

In 2008, MAS imposed fuel surcharges for Asean routes amounting to between US$40 to US$75 (RM112.4 to RM230) per ticket or an average of 25 per cent to 67 per cent.

Loedige, which delivers complex air cargo handling systems to airlines and freight forwarders, will undertake a project worth more than RM100 million to upgrade the material handling control system (MHCS) at the Advanced Cargo Centre (ACC) in Sepang, replacing obsolete technologies.

Upon completion in three years, MASkargo will be able to handle one million tonnes of cargo per year from 650,000 tonnes now. About 85 per cent of the cargo centre is being used now.

"This is an expansion to improve efficiency and utilisation to double our handling capacity," said MASkargo managing director Shahari Sulaiman.

He said it was timely to increase capacity with the expected growth in the intra-Asian air routes, and with the delivery of its new A330-200 freighters by April next year.

"We are looking at new routes and reviving some. We might resume flights to New York's JFK airport in March or April.

"We will also fly to Bangkok, Thailand, starting February 24, twice a week. So we can expect demand for cargo to increase," he said.

[XNeo]

MAS futuristic tv commercial 1994.
i really love it.

[nazrey]

Explore Malaysia with MAS pass
Wednesday February 2, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...318&sec=nation

DUBAI: Malaysia Airlines customers can now buy the “Discover Malaysia Pass” from as low as US$99 (RM302) for economy class and US$199 (RM608) for business class to explore Malaysia at more affordable prices.

The pre-paid ticket voucher, which can be bought from now until June 30, can be exchanged for a ticket that is valid for six months to enable travel to four sectors within Malaysia.

“This is a good way for tourists to visit more places in Malaysia while keeping in line with our efforts to help showcase the country as an exciting tourist destination in Asia,” MAS executive vice-president for sales and marketing Datuk Bernard Francis said in a statement.

To be eligible to purchase the pass, customers must have travelled on an international ticket purchased from MAS which is within a one-month travel validity.

On economy class, those travelling within peninsular Malaysia and within Sabah and Sarawak will only have to pay US$99 (RM302) for the pass.

Those travelling from the peninsula to Sabah and Sarawak will only have to pay US$199 (RM608).

For business class customers, the deal is US$499 for travels between peninsular and east Malaysia, and US$199 for travel within peninsular and within east Malaysia.

All prices are for all four sectors and are inclusive of tax and fuel surcharge.

The vouchers can be purchased from any MAS ticketing office or call centre.

They can then be exchanged for a ticket at MAS ticketing offices within 60 days. — Bernama

[skytrax]

[Vrooms]

Source:http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/...ws-142185.html

Queen Elizabeth II awards CBE to Air Asia CEO

London, Feb 7 : Air Asia Group Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) honour by UK's reigning Queen Elizabeth II.

The citation says the award was conferred for "services to promote commercial and educational links" between the United Kingdom and Malaysia.

Air Asia is a low-cost carrier in Asia which provides services to about 139 routes covering destinations in Asia, Australia and Europe.

Fernandes said, "I'm grateful to Her Majesty for the honour. It is a recognition of the hard work, determination and effort on the part of all my partners, colleagues and staff in AirAsia. This is as much their award as it is mine."

Last year the French government conferred upon him the title of 'Officier of the Legion d'honneur,' the highest award for a non-French national, for his outstanding contributions to the aviation industry.

Fernandes was also recently named "Asia Businessman of the Year 2010" by the Forbes magazine, and has gathered a slew of other top awards from private bodies and media organisations for his innovative approach to business.

--IBNS

[Vrooms]

Source:http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

MAS is travel merchant of the year

Malaysia Airlines won the "Travel Merchant of the Year" award category at the recent MasterCard Hall of Fame Marketing Awards 2010.

The event showcased the latest marketing trends in the credit card industry across 14 markets in South Asia and South East Asia.

Malaysia Airlines Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Datuk Bernard Francis said the award demonstrates that the airline is constantly engaging with various tools and techniques to provide value-added services to customers.

"Our marketing practices are tailored to meet the customers demand strategically yet effectively, creating a win-win situation.

"This definitely places us in good stead, as we move forward in this new year," he said in a statement today.

The "Travel Merchant of the Year" category is open to merchants such as airlines, car rental companies, travel related service providers that work with financial institutions or directly with MasterCard to provide cardholders with unique benefits.

This is the second consecutive year that MasterCard has organised the award to honour the teams behind strategic, effective and innovate cards marketing campaigns in the region. -- Bernama

Read more: MAS is travel merchant of the year http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...#ixzz1DNcNARcQ

[koresh]

KLIA

Click to see bigger size

[YU-AMC]

Originally Posted by XNeo

MAS futuristic tv commercial 1994.
i really love it.

A very good product for 1994.

[Vrooms]

Source:http://www.thaipr.net/nc/readnews.as...F027C4D355451B

AirAsia introduces airasia.com/ask, a one-stop information and solutions centre to engage with guests in real time, worldwide

วันที่ 11 กุมภาพันธ์ 2554 09:41 น.
ที่มา AirAsia

New Service reduces wait time, provides immediate contact with AirAsia and enables guests to obtain information immediately via live chat, webmail and twitter

Guests of AirAsia can now obtain real time information and enjoy immediate solution on AirAsia’s suite of services made available through AirAsia’s’s new one-stop help and information centre, airasia.com/ask.

The new service, available free to anyone from anywhere in the world, is a platform for guests to pose any question and engage with AirAsia via live chat, webmail and twitter. As soon as a question or enquiry is received, airasia.com/ask would provide specific, tailor-fitted answers in real time through the use of intelligent automated response technology.

Besides providing intelligent automated responses, airasia.com/ask offers guests the option of engaging the airline via Twitter at twitter.com/askairasia, live chat and webmail. The cutting-edge technology employed by airasia.com/ask enables it to track topics and trends and provides quick links to the most searched answers.

“AirAsia is investing more in technology to vastly improve our guests’ experience. A huge segment of our guests are internet savvy and well versed in the use of interactive media platforms. We are taking advantage of this strength of our guests to steer queries away from the call centre and towards airasia.com/ask, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing operating costs. The technology we employ here is similar to that used by the world’s leading IT companies. We are constantly looking at ways to offer our guests innovative experiences and guest engagement, and this new service is a step in that direction,” said Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia.

“Airasia.com/ask is available 24 hours daily and is equipped to handle multiple queries at any given period, thereby eliminating wait time for guests seeking automated responses. Having open communication lines is vitally important to us, and with airasia.com/ask, we provide multiple contact points for guests to easily get in touch with us and to know more about our products and services,” he added.

Airasia.com/ask provides visitors with information on AirAsia’s suite of products and services and is able to address pre- and post-flight inquiries.

Real-time Twitter and live chat service are available from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Malaysia time (GMT +8). Guests who send webmail to airasia.com/ask will receive an immediate response stating their reference number and the expected response time.
AirAsia has a Twitter fan base of 98,000 across ASEAN, where it is based, and beyond. It uses Twitter heavily for constant interaction with fans and to give fans instant updates.

airasia.com/ask is currently available through the internet. A special version for mobiles will be extended soon. It is now available in English, but there are plans to introduce the service in other languages, including Malay, Chinese and Thai.

AirAsia continues to offer call centre services, at 02-515-9999 for guests who prefer voice calls and for guests who want to make flight bookings or booking changes. Guests in other countries may visit the airline’s website for a full list of AirAsia’s call centre numbers.

About AirAsia
AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, services the most extensive network with approximately 139 routes covering destinations in Asia, Australia and Europe. In 8 plus years of operations, AirAsia has carried more than 100 million guests and grown its fleet from just two aircraft to approximately 100. The airline today is proud to be a truly Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) airline with established operations based in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, servicing a network stretching across all Asean countries, China, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Australia. This is further complemented by AirAsia X, its low-cost long-haul affiliate carrier that currently flies to destinations in China, Australia, Taiwan, India, Iran, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, France and the UK. AirAsia was named World’s Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax for two consecutive years, in 2009 and 2010.

[nazrey]

AirAsia defers aircraft delivery
Published: 2011/02/11
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

AirAsia Bhd has signed an amendment agreement with Airbus for the revision of the delivery dates of 10 Airbus A320s originally scheduled for next year to 2015.

In a statement here today, AirAsia said with the deferment, the delivery of 24 aircraft in 2012 would be reduced to 14.

The number of deliveries in 2015 would be increased from nine aircraft to 19, it said.

It said a key commercial reason for the deferral of the 2012 Aircraft was to afford the company some flexibility to switch from its current order of the classic A320 to a new-generation A320 aircraft.

"The new generation planes are more fuel-efficient when such aircraft come into production in the near future.

"The deferral will also have a positive impact on the balance sheet as it will help maintain the company's net gearing position to below two," it said. -- BERNAMA

[nazrey]

Fernandes: AirAsia X IPOs to go ahead as planned
by Joanna Yap. Posted on February 12, 2011, Saturday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=92895

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia X, AirAsia’s low-cost long haul affiliate carrier, will go public this year.

However, Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia Berhad, told reporters yesterday that the company had yet to set a date as the listing will depend on their performance.

The company is also exploring the viability of a dual-listing.

“I think that AirAsia’s stock has been so undervalued; we’re the cheapest airline stock in the world. Part of it is in not understanding the model. So, we may need to go to a market which understands the business more,” said Fernandes.

He confirmed that plans to list Thai AirAsia and Indonesia AirAsia were on schedule and would likely occur in the second half of this year. He also confirmed earlier reports that AirAsia had no plans to implement a fuel surcharge until oil prices hits US$100 per barrel.

Fernandes said one way the airline accomplished this was by raising their load factor, which had been better than anticipated.

Another factor was that the airlines’ ancillary income – mainly from their online operations – had been showing strong growth.

“We used to do RM20 a passenger, now it’s RM40 per passenger. It’s growing about 20 per cent per annum,” said Fernandes.

“At every stage, we are trying to reduce costs to make it easier and cheaper for people to travel.”

He explained: “We can’t serve everyone everything they want if we want to keep reducing fares. We can manage not to put fuel surge by doing some of the things we are doing, like pushing more people to the internet, continuing to reduce costs by putting food online so we don’t have wastage of food. All that reduces a lot of cost.

“Our key is ultimately the passenger so that they have the lowest fare. That’s how we’ve been able to expand,” he added.

[nazrey]

AirAsia lands in Paris
Published: 2011/02/16
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...13930/Article/



AirAsia Group CEO Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes (centre) posing with flight attendants in front of an Airbus A340 passenger jet on AirAsia X’s inaugural Kuala Lumpur-Paris flight at Orly airport on Monday.

AirAsia is negotiating with European plane maker Airbus to buy its revamped A320 Neo and long-haul A330 aircraft.

“We are actively discussing this product,” Fernandes told AFP, referring to the medium-haul A320 Neo, after talks with Airbus chief executive Tom Enders and John Leahy, its top
commercial executive.

Concerning the A330, “an announcement will be made on that soon, within two weeks,” Fernandes said. “We are a big believer in the A330.”

Airbus is planning to sell the A320, as the A320 Neo, with more fuel-efficient engines from 2016. AirAsia had already ordered 175 of these aircraft for delivery by that date and is now looking to upgrade the order to buy the Neo version. — Reuters picture

[nazrey]

AirAsia plans big order of upgraded A320s
Published: 2011/02/15
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...#ixzz1E75s6QD3

AirAsia Bhd, Southeast Asia’s biggest discount airline, is in talks to buy about 175 of Airbus SAS’s upgraded A320 jet as it adds short-haul flights within the region, Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes said.

“We like the product and we’d like to order lots more because there’s plenty of growth in our region,” Fernandes said in an interview today in Paris. “We haven’t agreed financial terms yet.”

The tentative order rewards Airbus, a unit of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co, for its decision to offer a modified version of the A320 single-aisle jet with more efficient engines. The A320neo will be introduced in 2016, after postponing development of an all-new replacement model until as late as 2025, the aircraft maker said Dec. 1

Airbus expects to take “several hundred” orders for the upgraded A320 before June’s Paris Air Show, Chief Operating Officer John Leahy said Jan. 28.

Kuala Lumpur-based AirAsia has taken delivery of most of the 175 A320s it bought on a previous contract, and its order for the revamped version will be “not dissimilar” in size, Fernandes said today.

Shifting Planes

After building up a network of 139 routes among its 75 destinations, the Malaysian low-cost carrier is pulling planes off routes longer than 3 1/2 hours to take advantage of fast- growing demand for short-haul travel.

“If you take a plane to Hyderabad, it’s four hours there, four hours back and you lose that plane for the whole day,” Fernandes said. “If I take that route out I can do another three flights to Singapore and the return is much better.”

The CEO spoke before a news conference marking yesterday’s opening of services between Kuala Lumpur and Paris, the second European destination for long-haul unit AirAsia X after London.

The carrier plans to add three or four more European destinations, starting with Berlin or Cologne in the second half of this year, with Milan, Nice, Prague and Budapest under consideration for later, Fernandes said. AirAsia is in talks to buy more Airbus A330 jets to operate those routes, he added. -- Bloomberg

[nazrey]

MAS mulls possibility of buying 737-900ER
Published: 2011/02/16
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...#ixzz1E75f97xJ

SEATTLE: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is studying the possibility of buying the 737-900ER as it has the right to substitute it with the current order of 737-800, Boeing’s senior sales director for commercial airplanes, Paul Dubeck said.

"They are studying it (and) have the right to substitute," he said when asked if MAS had shown an interest in the 737-900ER.

The 737-900ER is a short-to-medium range twinjet that increases the capability of the Next-Generation 737 family.

The 737-900ER carries 26 more passengers than the 737-900 and up to 215 passengers in a single-class configuration. It also flies about 500 nautical miles further - up to 3,200 nautical miles (5,925 km)- while having lower operating costs compared to the A321.

MAS ordered 35 of the Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes in 2008. The order was valued at more than $2.6 billion at then list prices.

The airline also acquired purchase rights for an additional 20 Next-Generation 737-800s.

The fourth of the 737-800 of the 35 jets ordered is due for delivery in mid-March this year.

The fourth aircraft is installed with blended winglets that will help to reduce fuel usage by about four per cent or US$480,000 a year. It also has increased range, and reduce CO2 emissions and take-off noise.

This new fleet of Next-Generation 737-800s will replace the existing 737-400 fleet.

The new plane also comes fitted with the Boeing Sky Interior.

However, Dubeck was tight-lipped when asked if MAS had exercised its purchasing right for the remaining 20 737-800.

There was a news report recently that Boeing has taken 32 new orders for 737s in the year to date.

It was revealed last Thurday that of this number, Alaska Airlines had ordered 15 airplanes, the US Navy six, one from a non-airline operator and 10 more from an unidentified customer.-– Bernama