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Mohd Suhaimi Fariz

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Posts posted by Mohd Suhaimi Fariz

  1. Posted · Report reply

    Does anyone remember the MAS Space Station commercial, where there was a space station shaped like the wau logo? It played back in the mid-90s. I've been searching for it online, but can't seem to find it. From what I've heard, the commercial cost so much because they used the guys who did the SFX for the Star Wars, that they basically have not enough money to air it so many times! I'd sure like to see it again.

  3. Posted · Report reply

    It will be 20 years ago next year. It seems that Malaysians aren't that sentimental about air crashes. There has been no coverage or commemorative ceremony at all about the Tanjung Kupang disaster, which happened 30 years ago last year. Prior to 9-11, and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961, the crash was the deadliest hijacking in the world. Maybe it still hurts to remember, but to forget would be even worse.

  5. Posted · Report reply

    Qantas a keen suitor

    December 4, 2008

     

    QANTAS has committed itself to forging a tie-up with a foreign carrier even if its planned $9 billion merger with British Airways falters.

     

    Qantas has pitched its biggest proposal since the botched Macquarie Group-led buyout last year, confirming it is in merger talks with its former cornerstone shareholder, British Airways. Qantas said the merger could involve the formation of a dual-listed holding company.

     

    But given the numerous obstacles the deal faces, Qantas admitted "there is no guarantee that any transaction will be forthcoming". Some of its institutional shareholders are already ruling out accepting a merger of equals, emphasising that Qantas is a better franchise than British Airways.

     

    British Airways is expected to lose money this year and next. Qantas is forecasting a $500 million pre-tax profit. Shares in Qantas surged as much as 9 per cent yesterday before closing up 10c, or 4 per cent, at $2.35 as investors took a sceptical view of the benefits of a planned tie-up.

     

    A successful deal could be the first step in the formation of the world's first transcontinental mega-carrier. British Airways is also discussing an alliance with American Airlines. "It is an exciting step towards a truly global airline," said the airline's chief executive, Willie Walsh.

     

    The main sticking points for Qantas in any deal will be the price each airline is worth in the combined entity and clarity about British Airways' pension scheme. The latter has been a stumbling block in talks between BA and the Spanish airline Iberia. Under the pension scheme, BA's liability remains constant even if its asset base declines, creating a deficit which it is responsible for paying.

     

    Qantas is likely to insist that British Airways does not run its talks with Iberia in tandem with its own negotiations. However, it is expected to be willing to consider Iberia joining a merged entity at a later stage.

     

    The combined entity would have about $23 billion in sales and 500 aircraft. The two airlines would retain their own brands. The few obvious benefits include lower costs from a single entity purchasing aircraft and other goods.

     

    The British Airways talks came after Qantas held merger discussions with Malaysia Airlines earlier this year. Qantas is believed to be keeping its options open on that alliance in case the BA deal falters.

    Qantas is also said to have long harboured a desire to merge with Cathay Pacific. The Hong Kong carrier has a large international hub and extensive freight operations, and also has strong links into the fast-growing Chinese aviation market through its subsidiary Dragonair, which is focused on the mainland.

     

    Cathay out-manoeuvred Singapore Airlines in 2006 to obtain a 20 per cent stake in Air China. But while Qantas in the past has been willing, it is believed Cathay has failed to reciprocate.

     

    The managing director of Integrity Investment Management, Paul Fiani, said a deal with BA would succeed only if it reflected the fact Qantas had a superior business to BA. "A simple merger of equals will not add value to the company. The merger ratio has to reflect that Qantas has a strong domestic business and a very valuable frequent flyer business," said Mr Fiani, whose firm has a stake in Qantas.

     

    Qantas suspended the Malaysia Airlines talks earlier this year because the two could not reach agreement over the merger ratio and governance issues.

     

     

    WOULDN'T IT BE NICE IF ALL GOES WELL, IT'S A GREAT PARTNETSHIP!

     

    What? Qantas and Malaysia Airlines? After Qantas badmouthed MAS after one of their incidents?

  6. Posted · Report reply

    If there's going to be a merger, it'll probably be like the AF/KL merger where they keep their separate identities. But one bad thing about mergers is that they could create megacarriers that could monopolize the business and stifle competition from small newcomers. Regulators must keep a close eye on that, otherwise we could see the return of high fares of olden days.

  10. Posted · Report reply

    Now that's interesting. The blue looks very VN :)

     

    It'll be wonderful sight to have major banks in Malaysia to advertise via this media, i.e.: Maybank, Public Bank, CIMB, AM Bank, etc. A good source of income for AK, they must be paid handsomely for this, me thinks.

     

    I'm sure the advertising agencies will clamour for this opportunity, but I would love to see MH advertising on an AK plane! Now THAT would be very interesting!

  11. Posted · Report reply

    Another major reason for the grievances is that MH's airfares continue to increase despite the hot meals being changed with the snackboxes. There wouldn't be so much fuss if the airfares are cut in line with the downgrade of the meals service.

    Are you out of your mind? The snackbox is not free. All meals onboard MH are never free. It is included in the ticket price. If earlier, I can get a one way KUL-KCH flight with hot meals with just MYR 125 but now I have to pay MYR 365 for the same ticket but get the snackboxes instead of the hot meals, do you think I am happy about that?

    You're oversimplifying here. You're not considering the rise in fuel and of course the inflation

     

    BC, perhaps this 2 gentlemen have been flying MH for 'free' for too long (maybe they are government servants or something) that they forget normal people actually do have to pay for the tickets (pure speculation here based on the tone of the explanation. My apology if it is not true).

    FYI, I'm a student. I've NEVER flown for free (but I would love to!)

  12. Posted · Report reply

    I agree with you. What's all the fuss about?

     

    As long as I'm not served a snack box on an intercontinental flight, I don't mind it on regional and intra ASEAN. I flew Austrian Airlines within Europe and I had to actually pay for my meal because I was only flying Y, Austrian only gave us freebies from the F&B cart when we had to turn around back to VIE since we couldn't land due to the weather. Flying Qantas from SYD to BNE I was given only a muesli bar, and a soft drink. Flying across America, LAX to JFK the only free food in Y you get is salted nuts and such, you have to pay for food and thats a long transcontinental flight. So really I don't see why people are making such a big deal when MAS introduces a snack box, especially in view of developments around the world, at least they're not charging me. I could probably foresee many more airlines doing the same sort of thing around the region sooner than later.

     

    My thoughts exactly! At least the snack box is free.

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