Malaysia Airlines will remain “Malaysian at Heart”

In a media presentation on 1st June, Malaysia Airlines Berhad CEO Christoph Mueller gave a detailed breakdown of the steps underway to streamline the carrier and allay concerns the travelling public may have about their current and future bookings with the airline. The presentation dealt with specific areas, beginning with the Strong Capabilities the airline posses.

The Positives to be built upon:

The airline has experienced and well trained pilots, highly sought after by other international airlines.

Award winning Cabin crew with a 5-star Skytrax rating.

MRO provider to over a hundred airlines worldwide.

As a main vehicle for tourist arrivals into Malaysia, the airline aims for sustainability and profitability by 2017.

To this end the Plan as revealed is designed to show the direction the airline intends to take and gives an outline of what it will look like when it takes on the new name and livery on 1st September 2015.

Immediate and future plans

The immediate timeline locks into place applications for the Airline Operating Certificate as well as the IATA Code which will allow the new airline to continue using the familiar MH prefix.

At least 14,000 employees have been offered employment in the new company.

Capitalisation of Malaysia Airlines Berhad by the shareholder Khazanah Nasional.

Commencement of transfer of contracts, assets and liabilities from MAS to Malaysia Airlines Berhad.

Between 1st June and 1st September

The Malaysia Airlines administrator will:

• Sell tickets for MAS and MAB
• Operate the aircraft
• Anticipate the cessation of business
• Dispose of assets
• Undertake the Wind-down process

From 1st September

• New employees will commence work for the new company
• All tickets sold by MAS will be honoured
• The new company will operate the aircraft.

Much of what is familiar will remain

• Apart from a renamed the Passenger airline, the subsidiaries MAS Wings, Firefly and MAS Kargo will continue to exist as part of the group.
• Support functions will include Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facilities (MRO), Ground Handling and Customer services such as MAS Holiday and Enrich Loyalty Program.
• The Malaysia Airlines Academy, Engineering, Flight and Operations Training will be retained under Learning and Development.

What it means for the travelling public

• The airline will still fly internationally. All continents will continue to be served either directly or with alliances and partnerships.
• All Malaysian Domestic services will be retained.
• Although some aircraft will be sold or leased, most of the familiar Airbus, Boeing and ATR/Viking aircraft will remain in the fleet.
• On routes requiring this level of service, First, Business and Economy Classes will be retained and a number of aircraft will enjoy seat and cabin upgrades.
• Your current Enrich loyalty points will be honoured.
• IT systems will be overhauled to make booking easier at the front end, and back end systems more efficient and cost effective.

What it means for the Staff

As the staffing of the airline will be reduced by about one third, considerable planning has gone into ensuring that morale remains high in the new, slimmer company. The document released today includes details of programs to upgrade staff skills in all areas. This will have positive benefits for both staff and customers.