KK Lee

ttp://www.malaysia-today.net/Blog-e/2006/07/tajudin-alleges-secret-deal-with-dr-m.htm While TR was the chairman, he did claimed he bought Mas for national service.

http://www.malaysia-today.net/Blog-e/2006/...l-with-dr-m.htm While he was the chairman, he did claim buying Mas was for national service.

After 8 years of installation, the book value on MAB aerobridge may be zero or near to by now. The marginal cost of operating the aerobridge is basically maintenance, operator wages and electricity. Hence, it shouldn’t cost a lot for AK to use. Basically, if nothing is built, no one can make money. When VVIP is on the flight, most likely the flight will be docked at MTB. MTB can’t expect VVIP and their entourage to use the sky train.

Ideally, MH should be operating from a single terminal for ease of transit and operation. But operating efficiency or pax convenient is not in MAB, MoT or MH dictionary especially bulk of MAB revenue is from duty free shops and there is a sky train to show off to tourists.

If nothing is built, no body can make money. Travelers convenient, short transit time, efficient transfer are not a priority in the decision makers mind. These people always travel on first class, have VIP privileges and prefer to keep commoners, cheap travellers away from them (i.e. MTB).

First class is kept for MH management travel.

A332 is better served on regional routes which has higher yield. MH management are too arrogant to send ill equipped A333 to Europe.

Yes. Enough Land was gazetted for two runways.

Believe in China, the moment they have recovered their construction cost, the fees will be reduced.

Nothing more than another WAU exercise.

Well said. But Mas is not an ordinary airline operating by business minded people.

Problems at Mas is not unknown. Just that, non-business objectives were (or still are) at higher priority.

After taking delivery of A380, MH should be looking at fleet rationalization. MH B772 and A333 seat capacity are almost similar. Very often, on high yield regional routes, MH is sending either a too small 734 or too big A333. MH is either not able to capture market shares or operating less than optimum yield. MH should be looking at aircraft that fit in between 734 and 772. May be swapping all 333 to 332?

Mas Kargo and AK have proved an airline operating without political agenda can be profitable and successful.

Originally, Subang airport had lots of reserved land for 2 runway and further expansion. Sepang was not a necessity. The decision taken to develop Sepang instead of Subang was to make some people very rich; 1. Reserved land at Subang was sold for development and golf course. 2. Construction of Sepang, highway, etc generate income for contractors. 3. Usage of highways between KLIA and KL generate more income for concession holder. 4. Land near KLIA was ‘parcelled out’. At the end, tax payers and travellers are paying for these expensive exercises. While our competitors are getting more competitive and we are adding more layers and cost to our daily life. Hence, Malaysia have not seen much investment, innovation, advancement since 1997.

Current MH schedule is not mean for business travelers but tourists, poor connection time and infrequent schedule. MH should join an alliance, so that their flight can stop at the LAX and EWR. Onward connection can be on alliance network, else before we know it, MH is expected to serve every major US cities. Keenly waiting for MH winter 06 schedule to see where they are heading to (either forward like a modern airline or still locked in a hopeless 1980’s model). Not that MH don’t know there are Indian traffic to USA but they don’t deem them important.

Believe most MH pax prefer 777 over A330 is 777 have PTV and A330 don’t. PTV were not installed on MH A330 because previous MH management didn’t deem Asian pax important enough. A330 seat arrangement of 2-4-2 is more friendly than B777 2-5-2 or 3-3-3 except when the load is low, one can occupied the center 5 seats. To me, PTV equipped A330 is a better aircraft to travel in. Dante Dris, New concept, improvement, initiative, TRIformation, alliance, etc is nothing new to MH. There have been too many disappointments at MH, one useless disastrous management after another. How serious MH is turning for the better is remained to be seen.

A380 cost per miles per seat is supposed to be 20% cheaper than 744. If load is justified, airline should invest in the most productive and efficient aircraft. Unless and until there is a major chances in Mas, no matter which aircraft or glider they buy won’t help them to be profitable.

Yep, it was my first experience on Kulula. Kulala is known for their humorous safety briefing. Some pax had a good laugh, guess they were new to Kulala like me.

The following is an actual flight announcement onboard Kulula, a South African low cost carrier. This flight from Cape Town to Jo’burg will take 2 days via Mauritius. When Oxygen masks drop down, please breath normally as this air is supply free of charge. There are many ways to leave your lover but there is only one way to leave this aircraft… In the event of landing on water, swimmers exit on the left; non-swimmers thank you for flying Kulula. To tighten life jacket, clip on your waist not your neck. Smoking is not permitted in this flight. You will be asked to leave immediately or fine R5000, which you better off flying with SAA. Please turn off cell phone, DVD player,,,, or any vibrating device or else the pilot will be watching from hidden camera. May be AK can add some spice to the safety briefing occasionally instead of reading the boring 30 years old script all the time.

I have flown MH A333 and A332 many times; many of A333 seat cushions are ill maintained i.e. ‘depressed, deflated’, have to exchange the cushion with the next free seat about 1/3 of the time. When A333 was ordered, the previous MH 019 management didn’t deem Asians to appreciate, enjoy or appreciate the PTV, hence was left out.

KLIA is originally planned for 100 millions pax pa with 2x MTB, 4x satellites and 5 runways. Basically, mirror image of existing layout. MTB can cater for 40 to 50 millions ppa.

EK food and entertainment is superior than MH. On South Asian sectors, MH is always serving similar menu.

MAB is only good at building new airport or terminals but never known to excel in operation.

MH need to join an alliance is long over due. However, it is not a habit for MH to comply to alliance requirement, standards or practice unless they are made the chairman of the alliance. I won’t be surprise MH may not join ST at the end, quit the alliance after a few years or most likely taking the lead to set up a halal alliance.