Sandeep G

What will happen between now and then?? Firefly probably will remain an all turboprop carrier - but the team at its helm may very well become core pillar of strength of a new MAS management team given the success they've enjoyed. MASwings and the rural air-service is the airline that may kena scrapped or be absorbed into Firefly... branding of firefly is better and why operate so many carriers at the end of the day.. MAS Premium.. well I think an insider like Tony is the right man for the job.. he's got the contacts and the name to boot - such an affiliation for MAS would likely see a good stock performance on Monday morning alone - plus it opens doors for better fleet renewal options ultimately. I don't think MAS will be canabalised by AirAsia Group - on the contrary - I think this is what was needed as an immune shot to the airline. Let's sit and see what happens if all this speculation is true. Furthermore, it's interesting to note that: MAS-Qantas are opening up a relationship. AirAsia-Jetstar have a silent but potentially lethal partnership. Imagine the powerhouse of a four-way tie up!

Quick question? Arle the grass cutters at KUL on strike? Since 3 weeks ago, the grass and lalang along 32R/14L is looking more and more like the African savannah! Taxiway signs also obscured...

Definately applies to the public roads - but note that it is closed for a day for repairs. Airports like WSSS are prone to such cases as well - because of the amount of rain we get. At least they are fixing it.. was at WBSB a month back and well... that place was in a sorry state of disrepair.. and recently went back to see no changes - the same problems... plus it wasn't even NOTAMed.

I actually fully believe that it is high time MAS seperate the ground handling services into another company with partial ownership similar to SIA/SATS arrangement of previous years and trim SO much fat from its spreadsheet and focus on providing flight services only.. Branding would further be enhanced as typically, poor quality services are often associated with MAS ground crews.. particularly during delays etc. The airline could setup a small but efficient ground team that handles such circumstances and special handling requirements of passengers that are made up of ex-cabin crew who are proficiently trained in service and also leave options for airline staff who want to start a family. There is still so much that can be done - I think there is too much talk/hype and not enough commitment from everyone... The person at the top really has to be high-profile and open - much like Tony is at AirAsia - before I really could think about seeing change at MAS.

Seems like lots of confusion in that ATC video link... Training?

So does this mean there are two MH birds on the ground at PER at one time? Any shots of this? Btw, The missus and I will be down 26Jun-05Jul.. Believe it or not, we're flying QANTAS.

I doubt so... there will probably be a shift in the routes the new 9M-MT* birds operate when MH announces whatever order it has for its 772 replacement - probably these aircraft will feature the same business class/first class product as the A380 for long haul. The 9M-MT* fleet, will operate more regional services (which include any destination within 6 hours radius). There is nothing wrong with operating such a seat - others have done so for years.

Whilst we get excited at MAS joining OneWorld - let's keep the big picture in view. Not all is "peachy" with QANTAS, continued engineering-related incidents/perpetual threat of industrial action/increasing angst toward the Irish CEO from not just the staff, but public as well... hope they can pull through what has indeed been a rough year. On the rationalisation of aircraft orders as mentioned in the article - I wonder if some of those 787's they've ordered may end up with 9M- regos and Wau tails?? Interesting times indeed. Meanwhile, Virgin/SIA partnership leads to a stronger foothold for SQ on Aussie marketshare and opens up again the chance for Trans-Pacific flights.

Whilst we get excited at MAS joining OneWorld - let's keep the big picture in view. Not all is "peachy" with QANTAS, continued engineering-related incidents/perpetual threat of industrial action/increasing angst toward the Irish CEO from not just the staff, but public as well... hope they can pull through what has indeed been a rough year. On the rationalisation of aircraft orders as mentioned in the article - I wonder if some of those 787's they've ordered may end up with 9M- regos and Wau tails?? Interesting times indeed. Meanwhile, Virgin/SIA partnership leads to a stronger foothold for SQ on Aussie marketshare and opens up again the chance for Trans-Pacific flights.

.I think KUL-MEL has seen tremendous growth also due to the presence of D7/EK in addition to MH, with EK having 5th freedom ex-KUL. Another player (in the form of BA/QF) would not be mutually beneficial to MH/Oneworld. However, the expansive gap in services between SYD/KUL in particular between alliance partners of Oneworld could see fruition in profits. They may just see an improvement in yields if they operate via KUL to SYD as fifth-freedom ex-KUL would potentially see a rise in O/D traffic between SYD-KUL. Many Malaysians are still heading down to SIN before hopping on QF/BA to LHR/AU. It is important thus, for BA/QF to mount services to KUL for MH (& KUL) to see a benefit from the partnership. The good news is, recent statistics (look for MAR's analysis on this forum) and data show MH front-end yield has increased and they are focusing again on filling the front-end with not just corporate travellers but with wealthy leisure travellers as well. So hopefully, the demand for premium traffic ex-KUL will see a rise in the future. In addition, not that you've said it at all Keith, but the general perception that KUL is NOT a business destination is highly dubious - the problem is that this region, particularly Singapore/Malaysia & Thailand are important regional economic houses - and most corporate travellers ex-EU/US/AU will combine their corporate travels in one go - hence why BKK/SIN have become traditional entry points into the region with the Airline Alliances. Hopefully, with this entry, MAS may now reap the benefits of being the origin of Business traffic in the region with people coming to KUL first before heading to SIN/BKK.

You might just see the present BA015/BA016 service routed via KUL instead of SIN.. at present, BA015 and BA011 Both ex-LHR arrive in SIN within one hour - with BA015 on a quick transit to SYD. Plus, the gap in service to SYD ex-KUL with only MAS serving the route - who knows - this could have been the actual reason why the Govt has been procrastinating on the decision to permit D7 on the route.. BA has in the past announced it was considering scaling back operations into SIN (particulalry during the lean years). The service into KL would also permit connecting passengers with MH schedule on to other Australian destinations such as PER/MEL/ADL or even AKL & even South East Asian destinations like DPS/CGK/MNL etc. Hence, BA011/012 LHR-SIN (Option for passengers to transit onto QF for flights to AU) (B744 and in the future i'd imagine the A380) BA015/016 LHR-KUL-SYD (Option for passengers to transit onto MH flights to AU/SEA) (B777 and possibly upgrade to B744/A380) As per QF - I think they may consider mounting a service between PER-KUL for connections to SEA/North Asia/European destinations such as FCO/AMS/FRA & since they have recently announced the termination of PER-NRT. Possibility of even an ADL-KUL service on the days not operated by MH to combine for a daily service. Lots of prospects & exciting times. Either way. Expect to see the Kangaroo and the Union Jack back on Malaysian soil - at first in a limited presence. Hope that MAHB also wakes up and realises that they better invest in the KLIA MTB/SAT A facilities to maintain on par or better services with SIN. I think I smell SAT B..

You never know - might just be on the cards... AirAsia have touted with the idea of having a presence in Australia also - although - the operational environment there is a little topsy-turvy at the moment with QANTAS/Jetstar and a new branding of Virgin Australia... Plus Tigers poor reputation amongst the public in Australia wouldn't make it a great takeover target.

The business in Australia is also under pressure and not seeing any positive growth prospects this year in capacity/network. Interesting times ahead.

10 more for anticipated GROWTH on regional flights. You'd want MAS to be operating double daily to places like NRT/HND/KIX/ICN/PVG/PEK/CAN/TPE/MEL/BNE/PER/DEL/BOM/DXB and daily to places like AKL/ADL/AUH etc. They'll need more than 15 A330's to do that. Furthermore, don't forget MAS has openly touted the idea (along with Boeing) of replacing the existing options for 20 B738s with B739ERs - perhaps instead having the 738s go on to FireFly for domestic and regional LCC routes.

10 A332's for MAS??? I don't think so unless they want to photocopy AirAsiaX growth plans... I think 10 more A333E would be of more benefit to MAS in the long run for Medium-haul regional services (Particularly CHINA/AUS/JAPAN/KOREA/INDIA) - Belly cargo being the added advantage. Any more reviews on the new A333E MTA/MTB already in service??

Rats on a Plane!! An aussie box office smash perhaps? Not nice to have been found with the med-kit though... kinda gross! QANTAS have always had this problem though... they're quite blind to the fact that there is a giant "rat" living on ALL their aircraft - in the vicinity of the tail.. In fact recently, this "rat" even got a "facelift" and now looks pretty speedy!! *Apologies for the somewhat dark sense of humour - but Australia is the only country in the world that kills and eats the animals of its coat-of-arms and often culls roo's to maintain control on the exploding populations!*

WOW? My guess is an impending Frequent Flyer Programme.

It's also about establishing a presence, maintaining a presence during the hard times even and ramping up services when required. This requires some money to burn, which airlines like SQ have (they are cash rich). Months ago, MAS was talking about acquiring another airline (GA was mooted as a potential takeover target back then/as well as a purchase of QF) because they had built up cash reserves. Such cash should be maintained for those lean cycles which happen every couple of years (albeit more frequently in recent times). Examples of MH folly - Discontinuing DXB-EWR (EK now has rights KUL-MEL and rumoured soon KUL-SYD) Discontinuing ARN-EWR (Scandanavian passengers now have to travel via AMS) Discontinuing KUL-MAN (Should have scaled back and ramped up again) Discontinuing MUC-MAN (MH pioneered this route way back in the early 2000's - look whose enjoying it now) Discontinuing KUL-ZRH Discontinuing KUL-VIE Placeslike ZRH/VIE/MUC could have been added as non-5th freedom tag on flights with other destinations with low frequency such as FCO/CDG. In fact, the following suggested flights would have perhaps help utilise crew better on long layovers in stations such as CDG/FCO. KUL-FCO-ZRH (Crew Shuttle FCO-ZRH-FCO) KUL-ZRH-MAN (Crew Shuttle ZRH-MAN-ZRH) KUL-VIE-ARN (Crew Shuttle VIE-ARN-VIE) This is a sample of how MH may have maintained a presence within all these markets back then and today may have had more chance of ramping up services to have direct flights to these places and maintain a healthy market position. Unfortunately - all of what I mention was not possible back then because the cash position was so poor and Datuk IJ mentioned bankruptcy within months if nothing DRASTIC was done. Drastic changes were achieved, the airline sprung back to life - cash reserves have grown - but now hard times are falling upon again - but no shift in strategic management has yet been apparent... perhaps now is the time to think about the long term future in addition to the short time survival... KUL-

I have a question.. As parking bays in the immediate vicinity of the LCCT are scarce, and there are multiple buys at the Satellite building why not park the airplanes there and instead of towing, why not MAHB foot the bill for buses to transport the passengers via BUS to the arrival hall of LCCT. If they can provide Rapid KL buses round the clock while the aerotrains were down, why not for the LCCT?

Yah, I'm smelling Pumpkins with this news... With the kind of ex-government staff on their payroll - I think it is a little far-fetched for AirAsia to move its ENTIRE regional HQ from Malaysia to Indonesia. Perhaps a secondary "Regional" office will be established in Indonesia to grow QZ and perhaps some basing of wide-body jets or the extension of the AirAsiaX brand to Indonesia.. Plus - nothing quantifiable in any other major news source??

FYI, I saw JY-JAQ sitting on the Military ramp at RPLL on Monday 09-05-2011. Was intrigued as to its purpose so far away from home!

Saw PK-GFN in WIII on 26th Apr 2011 on pushback from Remote F-APRON adjacent T3. Impressive livery on the 738 - unfortunately - no camera to snap.

At the moment.... still got.. but by the time these guys get through.. hopefully for them they won't have to wait.

Hi Aaron, Do declare everything including previous medical conditions/surgerical procedures to the CAMB. Usually, the medical will take place in ST Aeromedical at Paya Lebar airport. Here, you will go from Urine test/basic eye tests/Height & Weight/Audiogram/Consultant Physician examination. Then, the requirement may be for you to visit specialists including Opthamologist/ENT/Cardiologist depending on requirements by CAMB post the basic medical above. I have friends with lasik - no probs with the medical. For eyesight, worst approx 500/500 per eyes but MUST be correctable to 6/6. FYI: Change to the format of training: 1. OBS.Lumut/Ubin (21 days) 2. SFC.WSSL - Technical/ATPL/Perf-A phase (JAA ATPL papers) (~5 months) 3. SFC.WSSL - Ab-Initio flying assessment phase (C172) ~15 hours (solo) (~1 month) 4. SFC.YPJT - Phase 1-->Phase 4 Flying (CPL IR SE or ME) (C172/Chance of BE58) (~6 months - 10 months) 5. SFC.YBMC - Advanced Training (Cessna Citation C510 Mustang) (~3 months) 6. SIA.WSSS - CP-->S/O Conversion Training (B777/possible A330) (~6 months) 7. SIA.WSSS - S/O Phase Training (~9 months) 8. Welcome to FO-hood.

Your stats comparing MH and SQ are interesting! ASK/RPK relationship is linear between the two. So too are passenger numbers. So, on the linear scale MH is actually doing quite well with what they have - but only in terms of these figures. The interesting stats will come from financial reports when you compare the airlines operating costs/revenues with external income and the overall net profit. Ceteris Paribus - we should see MAS performing at about 45% that of SQ based on what you have shown us above - but we all know this is far from the truth. However, as a stock - One could be quite moved by your above indications.