Azri M.

http://business.smh.com.au/airasia-reveals...80221-1tpa.html AirAsia reveals Virgin plan Scott Rochfort February 22, 2008 ASIA'S largest budget airline, AirAsia, has signalled its interest in launching an "ultra low-cost" domestic carrier in partnership with Virgin Blue, fuelling expectations Australia could soon see the mother of all air fare wars. The Malaysian airline has confirmed it could join Singapore's Tiger Airways and Indonesia's Lion Air, and draft plans to grab a slice of the increasingly crowded Australian domestic market. "We are definitely keen but a lot of that hinges on what happens with Toll [Holdings] and who is going to take control of Virgin Blue," said the head of the airline's AirAsiaX long-haul arm, Azran Osman-Rani. AirAsia has indicated it will only enter into a deal with Virgin Blue if Toll sells down its 62.7 per cent stake in the carrier and Sir Richard Branson wrestles back management control of the airline he helped establish in 2000. "At this stage we're not actively pursuing anything. We will observe what happens to the Toll stake," said Mr Azran, who stressed AirAsia had no interest in buying part of Virgin Blue. Sir Richard already owns a strategic stake in AirAsiaX and has a close association with the airline's founder, Tony Fernandes, an ex-Virgin executive. The Virgin founder, who owns 25.5 per cent of Virgin Blue, is yet to signal whether he might increase his share in the carrier. With Toll keen to dispose of its stake via a reprivatisation of the airline, this could become clearer when he visits Australia with Mr Fernandes next month. Despite Wednesday's disappointing profit from Virgin Blue, Toll surprised the market yesterday with a 10.3 per cent lift in interim profits to $237 million. Toll shares rose 76c to $10.15, after the company said it expected buoyant trading conditions to continue across its "core transport and logistics" operations for the rest of the fiscal year. On Wednesday, Virgin Blue boss Brett Godfrey said the ultra-cheap spin-off could either be launched out of his airline's New Zealand-centric Pacific Blue subsidiary or in partnership with another low-cost airline. It is unclear if AirAsia, which has sponsorship deals with the English football club Manchester United and the Williams formula one motor-racing team, might want any venture to be in its distinctive branding or in Virgin's. While Virgin Blue attempts to take its operations upmarket in an bid to lure corporate passengers from Qantas, the "ultra" budget carrier will try to undercut Qantas's budget Jetstar arm. It is likely the airline will squeeze at least another row of seats on its jets. AirAsiaX already flies between Kuala Lumpur and the Gold Coast. It is seeking permission from the Federal Government to increase flights to Australia. While delaying plans to fly to Newcastle until next year, it is believed the airline could announce flights to Melbourne next month. AirAsia may not have to wait long for Toll to dispose of its stake in Virgin Blue, whose shares have slumped to $1.24. Toll said it was likely to "reduce its investment in the company". A board assessment would be completed soon.

Not so sure.. I just look at the booking for KL-SIN for a date just under a week from the day of booking, and the RM9.99 fare is still up. I would imagine it will snap quickly, as it is near the date of flying already. Maybe the frequency wise its not favourable, 2 times daily (plus 2 from singapore carriers), and many ppl like the early morning flight, the earliest AK can fly is at 10AM. But I maybe wrong, they maybe doing better than the other 2.

...THis is why... http://www.todayonline.com/articles/238352print.asp I guess the business market will stil go for SIA/MAS, while the leisure traveller finds buses are still cheaper and more convenient. We'll see how it goes.

Whoa! 10 abreast! http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-...Hash=8486628db9

Haha, funny...

done that a million of times....

It's been 4 days that I am unable to get a hold of the MAS booking page. When I put the details (departure date/location etc), and then pressing SUBMIT, it will just say "waiting" or "loading" but nothing happen, until it timed out. I thought I have a internet configuration problem whatsoever, but I have no problems with any other websites. And I never have any problem with MAS booking page website before, right before they change the system. I use Windows XP , and I have tried every single browsers available in my computer - Firefox, Safari, IE, even Opera. (Mind you, they are all the latest version)... So I thought its my own internet problem, because my other computer, a desktop also experiences the same thing. But, when I tried it on in my dad's laptop (using the same internet connection), the booking page works like a charm. Now, the only different between my dad's and the other 2 computers, is my dad is using Windows Vista. Don't tell me that it only works in Windows Vista! Anyway, can anyone can help me figure out what's going on??? I'm really confused. Perhaps its some sort of encryption (security) problem that may have interfered when I tried to get into it. Anyway help me out, k. THanks

Lion Air is reportedly colllaborating with an Australian company for creating Lion Air Australia. So I guess the expansion plan therefore requires that many planes.

I can see that Idris Jala will not cancel the A380. And I believe, they are buying many Airbus birds. That's why there will be no announcement in the Boeing airshow.

I think he meant, the April is the deadline to decide whether to take the Airbus A380 or not. I'm sure Boeing's order is already done by then.

I cant proceed beyond "Flight requiments" page. Has anyone experienced it as well?

There is a rumour brought out in A.net that Jetstar does take account KLIA to be a hub after signing a joint venture agreement with MH for the MRO. Now Qantas groups have the repair there, why not make a hub as well..

She took MH because her parents recommended it, as they have flewn MH before (I believe couple of years ago), and found the everything was excellent... What she gets now is really gonna be a new experience... I guess we can call it "a new experience on travelling with the five star airline at LCC cost (FSCLCC)"... despite this, she did have a good time transiting in KL, 9 hours well spent shopping etc in KL downtown. At least not everything was bad.

"Snekboks" (like boxing=boksing), "KotakSnek", what else My friend just took SGN-KUL-MEL with MH... she totally hates the food. It's small, unpalatable. On SGN-KUL route, the Snekbox was served. She commented, "the box is nice, but the sandwich is unedible" on KUL-MEL leg, she told me, the menu is not showing on the screen anymore, n hence no paper menu, she just relied on what the flight attendant said during serving - "chicken with rice, or beef with potato", since she figured rice is common in Asia, why not take the second option. She regret it so much coz the beef doesnt taste like a beef at all, she said, frozen beef bought from a supermarket may taste nicer than that. 2nd meal (Continental breakfast), was announced. She gets this small muffin and bread, she asked, "is this the breakfast", the flight attendant replied "this is the refreshment". So she assumed that this maybe like an entree to a breakfast. Nah, no other food came beside that. And again, nothing shows on the screen. She compares to Jetstar (which was the one she took to SGN (SYD-SGN), the food was just so awesome. and Jetstar is a budget airline! This is her first time taking MAS, and I am sure she may not want to experience it again. I am quite embarrassed to hear her story. she is a vietnamese expecting some good experience on our national carrier. The only thing I explained to her is that MAS is cutting cost but it has gone a little bit just way too far...

Y not? They are making huge money on the route, the operating cost (fuel cost especially is very little), it won't hurt them financially at all to put the snackbox on KUL-SIN route. They may not even have to lower down the ticket fares and it would be a distinctive product offered by other airlines incl SIA, which may attract people to fly with them (even at a higher cost). Remember, MAS one way is RM429 compared to SIN RM421, putting MAS selling the highest fares on KUL-SIN route at the moment.

Funny, even MAS website also shows it will fly to Gatwick!

Haha, this one is not a tale like the other topic I started.... Breaking news! Passenger plane 'crashes off runway' at Heathrow Airport Last updated at 13:42pm on 17th January 2008 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...in_page_id=1770 A passenger plane has careered off the runway at Heathrow Airport. Emergency services were scrambled to Terminal Four after the Boeing 777 landed short of the runway. Passengers were told by the pilot to adopt the brace position before the plane hit the ground, scattering debris in its wake and tearing off a piece of one wing. All flights into and out of the airport suffered delays, including a flight due to take Prime Minister Gordon Brown to China. Many flights have been delayed and the southern runway remains closed. The stricken plane at Heathrow Airport Detectives in the Prime Minister's motorcade, who witnessed the incident, at first worried that the plane was being flown towards Gordon Brown's entourage, sparking fears of a terrorist attack. The incident is likely to cause lengthy delays to flights for several hours. The craft involved is a British Airways 777, BA38, aircraft heading for Beijing and it is not yet known whether there are any casualties. A British Airways spokesman said the aeroplane landed short of the runway. Emergency slides were used for the evacuation One eyewitness said he saw the plane coming in at a steep angle and it appeared to have a problem with the undercarriage. Passengers are believed to have been evacuated with emergency slides and three were thought to have been treated for minor injuries. All the airport's fire engines were present at the scene. Daily Mail Political Editor Benedict Brogan, who is on the Prime Minister's plane said: "I can see the plane has come off the runway due to a lack of undercarriage. It is sitting at an odd angle." "From where I sit it's come down at a bad angle and one of the wings appears to have been damaged. It's in the grass and the slides are down. "The BA airbus from Shanghai we are told is surrounded by fire engines but there is no sign of smoke." The pilot on the Prime minister's plane described the incident to passengers as "a significant incident". The plane missed the runway at Terminal Four (file picture) Eyewitness John Rowland said: "The plane's wheels collapsed. On its approach it took the runway too low, just missing the roof of my cab. "It crashed into the runway, debris was flying everywhere, there was an enormous bang and it skidded sideways." The northern runway later re-opened and the Prime Minister's plane was given permission to take off. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Police were called at 12.43pm to reports of an incident involving an aircraft on the southern runway at Heathrow Airport."We understand that all passengers and crew are currently being evacuated. "There are no reports of any persons seriously injured at this time. "There is nothing to suggest at this stage that the incident is in any way terrorist-related." There was no smoke visible from the plane, which was surrounded by emergency vehicles. The crashed plane stopped about 1,000 metres from the Prime Minister's plane. Accompanying the Prime Minister on his flight to China were around 30 political journalists. Also on the plane bound for Beijing was Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes. At 1.20pm passengers were told to take their seats for the delayed departure. A spokesman for BAA, owners of Heathrow, said: "Passengers have been evacuated and Heathrow's southern runway has been closed." British Airways issued a number for people concerned about relatives on the flight: 0800 389 4193

OOPS,,,, Per week of course... Another thing to notice, you can now prepay food for the normal AirAsia flight as well... I think that's a very good thing. CORRECTION: Only on AK routes. (not in FD/QZ at the moment)

How could D7 does 3 routes at the same time, KL-Gold Coast 4 times a day, KL-Hangzhou 5 times a day, how about KL-Dhaka? I dont see how they can squeeze the time. Do you guys notice, that the add ons option on D7 have changed? No more prepay on amenity kits. I guess its not making money huh? And, the luggage add-ons has become cheaper? Last time, any addition after 15 KG is RM20 per kg. Now, every KG is worth RM5 up til 20 KG, and then become RM10 per kg until it becomes 25 kg. Not bad. Btw, Azmir, you may want to tell AirAsia webmaster, when you look under "Snack Attack", there is a link to AirAsia and AirAsia X food. In there you will see a link to "AAX Food", and "AAX Beverage" (i.e. http://www.airasia.com/site/my/en/snackAttack.jsp), It can be a bit confusing there, prefer them to use full name before making a fool of themselves. Thats all...

lol, i dont know what to believe. Try reading the forum posts. It seems that its a first hand account from his brother. But nevertheless, no pictures to back it up. And it seems that there maybe a cover up by the newspapers, hence no news. It maybe why SZB-JHB and SZB-KUA have been discontinued (this is my assumption only).

I just stumbled upon a forum... http://forums.techarp.com/adrian-wong/2352...html#post319728 Can someone verify this? Is this true??? I know this is sorta 2-3 weeks ago, but I din't hear anything though....

Only one plane... They have been flying to Gold Coast and Dhaka (charter), and there seems to be no problem. Now KUL-Dhaka has been stopped, thats why Hangzhou destination appears.

No privatisation plan http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?f...mp;sec=business

No problem now, but I reckon Ive tried all afternoon up til now.. but it all worked out now. thanks azizul

I can't go to MAS website at all today - http://www.malaysiaairlines.com And now I can't book my flight at all... calling by phone will incur service charge, travel agent as well. I thought having a notice of "Booking not available until further notice" last week was bad enough, but this is even worse, can't even go to the website at all... As a customer (potential), I do not feel cared. ps- I have to fly domestically KUL-AOR (airasia only flies once a day )