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Firefly To Add Three More Aircraft Next Year

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KUANTAN, July 8 (Bernama) -- FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd (Firefly), a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines (MAS), will recieve three more ATR72-500 turbo-propeller aircraft next year.

 

Firefly's managing director, Eddie Leong said the aircraft which cost US$18 million each, will boost the company's plan for network expansion and passengers.

 

"Currently, Firely operates with seven ATR 72-500 planes with each flight carrying 72 passengers," he told reporters after announcing the commencement of the Kuantan-Singapore route here, Wednesday.

 

Firefly's maiden flight into Singapore is slated for departure from the Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport here on July 22.

 

Eddie said the four times weekly flights will further strenghten its network while focusing on commuters for business and leisure.

 

"Singapore is an important hub for Firefly to tap into.Our target market will now expand to not only include Singaporeans but also Malaysians working in the country, the expatriate community and transit passengers," he said.

 

He said the route also reflects Firefly's commitment to help spur tourism in Pahang.

 

The carrier is offering an introductory promotional all inclusive one way fare of RM88 for the Kuantan-Singapore flight.

 

-- BERNAMA

 

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsbusiness.php?id=423868

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Well these three aircraft were supposed to be delivered this year but Firefly requested for delivery to be postponed to next year.

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Additional aircraft to boost Firefly’s plans to grow

 

by Simon Khoo

 

KUANTAN: FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd will take delivery of three more ATR72-500 turbo-propeller aircraft, costing over RM60mil each, next year.

 

The additional aircraft would boost the low-cost carrier’s plan for network expansion and growing its passenger volume, managing director Eddie Leong said at a briefing on Firefly’s operations yesterday.

 

The airline currently had seven of the French-made ATR72-500 aircraft which cost a total RM500mil, and had a seating capacity of 72 passengers each, he said.

 

“The number of aircraft is not an issue here; it’s the manner in which we are able to fully utilise them to service all the routes.

 

“In this aspect, we will work closely with the state governments to promote their tourism products in a win-win situation,” he said, citing examples of eco and nature getaway packages to renowned sites such as Tioman and Taman Negara in Pahang.

 

Firefly will commence direct flights four times a week from Kuantan to Singapore from July 22.

 

“Despite the grim outlook for most airlines, we are opening all our new routes to Singapore at a frantic pace. These new routes will further strengthen Firefly’s network focusing on business and leisure travellers.

 

“Our target market will now expand to not only Singaporeans but also Malaysians working in Singapore, the expatriate community and transit passengers,” Leong said.

 

Leong said for a start, Firefly was targeting 25,000 passengers annually for the Kuantan-Singapore route and was prepared to sustain some losses in the initial stages.

 

“Other direct flights to Singapore such as from Ipoh, Malacca, Kota Baru and Alor Setar will be opened in stages.

 

“Overall, we are confident of hitting the target of 1.3 million passengers this year,” he said, adding that Firefly had already achieved 600,000 passengers to date.

 

Source: http://blog.fireflyz.com.my/

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Compare with KUL, SZB is the preferred airport for most people living in the Klang valley. By having monopoly use of SZB, FY can be very successful.

 

:drinks:

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Compare with KUL, SZB is the preferred airport for most people living in the Klang valley. By having monopoly use of SZB, FY can be very successful.

 

:drinks:

I think like AirAsia, Firefly is more concerned about making Singapore their virtual hub! There will be more flights out of SIN than PEN (their HQ) soon, I think!

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I think like AirAsia, Firefly is more concerned about making Singapore their virtual hub! There will be more flights out of SIN than PEN (their HQ) soon, I think!

 

If FY serve more Malaysian cities from SIN, SIN will become a hub for Peninsular Malaysia, and FY will become a airline virtually based at SIN. If this happen, FY should be successful economically but not sure whether those narrow minded politicians will permit or not. For certain, MAB will lobby to prevent this to happen, citing more pax will transit at SIN.

 

:drinks:

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By the end of the year, FY will link SIN to ALL secondary airports in Peninsular Malaysia (AOR, PEN, IPH, SZB, MKZ, KUA, TGG and KBR) except JHB. Passengers' movement into/from this secondary airports will surely increase significantly (which will contribute positively towards MAHB's operation). I don't think the passengers traffic in KUL will decline, as the AirAsia group (AK/D7/QZ/FD) will thrive and prosper there like never before. It's the passengers traffic on our beloved MH that will for sure suffer BIG time and continue to fall.

 

MAHB will be the stupidest business entity in the world if they decided to lobby to the government to prevent this development from happpening (by citing more passengers will transit in SIN rather than in KUL).

 

But I am a bit clueless on why FY decided to defer the delivery of the 3 ATRs to next year? Their business is picking up and a few routes out of PEN were closed just to accommodate their business expansion into SIN. Wouldn't it be wiser for them to have as many aircrafts as possible so that they can expand without having to close any of their existing routes, particularly those originated from PEN?

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COMMUNITY airline Firefly may take delivery of three new planes this year as demand for travel could recover.

 

The three planes were supposed to arrive last year but were deferred as a recession took its toll on business.

 

FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Eddy Leong said the airline will make a decision by the end of February.

 

"Subject to the delivery of the three additional aircraft, we will review the reinstatement of some suspended flights such as Kota Baru-Penang," he told Business Times yesterday.

Last year, Firefly announced the suspension of several flights operating out of the Penang International Airport.

 

They included flights from Penang to Kuala Terengganu, Kota Baru, Koh Samui and Kuantan. Firefly had also suspended its Subang-Phuket flight.

 

Firefly now has seven ATR 72-500s.

 

"We are also looking at introducing the Subang-Hatyai route," he said, adding that Firefly has not initiated any traffic right applications to fly the proposed route and is currently at market research stage.

 

On plans for more flights into Singapore this year, Leong said: "We continue to work with the Kedah and Kelantan state governments to commence direct flights to Singapore, and much of which depends on refuelling facilities at the Alor Setar and Kota Baru airports".

 

Firefly also plans to start a second daily flight from Ipoh to Singapore.

 

When asked on the outlook of the aviation industry this year and how Firefly is expected to fare, Leong said: "Most industry players and observers expect 2010 to be more stable than 2009, although we may not necessarily see a drastic upswing.

 

"This is due to fuel cost which has been steadily rising since the last vertical dip to record lows, and we are viewing this with caution".

 

Firefly will continue to strengthen its position as a community airline, focusing on commuter traffic and connecting secondary cities and towns.

 

"Our inbound marketing efforts via code-share with MAS are beginning to show very positive results and we will push our yield and seat factor higher this year."

 

Source: http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/fly55/Article/

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KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- Firefly will increase its present turboprop fleet with the purchase of three additional ATR72-500s, two of which will be delivered in December 2010 and the third in January 2011.

 

In a statement here Tuesday, Firefly said this will bring its turboprop fleet size to 10.

 

It said the new aircraft will be used to strengthen Firefly's current network footprint through increased frequency for the high demand sectors.

 

Moreover, it will reinstate some Penang based routes that were previously suspended due to the prevailing unfavourable economic condition last year.

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I don't think this is a new order but taking delivery of the last 3 a/c from the original order of 10 ATR's. Once again our editors/reporters can get the facts right.

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FY should consider the possibility of supplementing ATR72 with some ATR42s as well. This is particularly for developing "thinner" routes from PEN hub and even later establish another one in JHB perhaps.

 

Those baby Brazilian EMB's may also be another option.

 

After all, " A community Airline " should be connecting secondary towns such as PEN - KBR / TGG, JHB - TGG / KBR , IPH - JHB / KBR...etc.

Edited by Ruiz Razy

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FY should consider the possibility of supplementing ATR72 with some ATR42s as well. This is particularly for developing "thinner" routes from PEN hub and even later establish another one in JHB perhaps.

 

Those baby Brazilian EMB's may also be another option.

 

After all, " A community Airline " should be connecting secondary towns such as PEN - KBR / TGG, JHB - TGG / KBR , IPH - JHB / KBR...etc.

 

Adding Embraers? I think they're a much better choice than the 734 from MAS, but of course the upfront cost to acquire them are more than the discarded Boeings.

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Maybe the transfer of the ageing B734 does not cost FY any penny at all.

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FIREFLY INCREASES ITS TURBOPROP FLEET TO 10 ATR72-500s

 

KUALA LUMPUR, August 24 – Firefly, Your Community Airline, announced today that it will increase its present turboprop fleet with the purchase of three additional ATR72-500s, two of which will be delivered in December 2010 and the third in January 2011. Entry into service will be 1 month from delivery date. This brings Firefly’s total turboprop fleet size to 10.

The additional aircraft will be used to strengthen Firefly’s current network footprint through increased frequency for high demand sectors and reinstatement of some Penang based routes that were previously suspended as a result of a network rationalization that was carried out in the 1st quarter of 2009 due to unfavourable economic conditions.

 

Additional frequencies:

 

SIN-SZB additional 1 flight daily resulting in 6 flights daily

 

SIN-IPH additional 3 flights (days 3,5,7) resulting in 2 flights daily

 

SZB-TGG additional 1 flight daily resulting in 3 flights daily

 

SZB-KBR additional 13 flights (2x on days 1,2,3,4,5,7 and 1x day 6) resulting in 7 flights daily

 

SZB-PEN additional 2 flights daily resulting in 10 flights daily

 

SZB-LGK additional 5 flights (days 1,2,3,4,6) resulting in 2 flights daily

 

PEN-MES additional 1 flight daily resulting in 2 flights daily

 

PEN-BTJ additional 4 flights (days 1,3,5,7) resulting in 1 flight daily

 

Routes reinstated:

 

PEN-KBR flights on days 1,3,5,7 resulting in 4 times a week

 

PEN-KUA flights on days 2,4,6 resulting in 3 times a week

 

PEN-TGG flights on days 2,4,6 resulting in 3 times a week

 

In a statement released today, Managing Director Dato’ Eddy Leong said that on top of the three aircraft, Firefly is negotiating for additional four ATR72-500s to be delivered in 2011/12 to fuel its expansion into more secondary routes.

 

Firefly received its first ATR72-500 aircraft on the 11 August 2008 and has since been operating with 7 brand new ATR72-500s serving 19 destinations from its hubs in Subang and Penang. Firefly’s routes cover both business and leisure destinations in Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatera and Thailand. It boasts a “One Destination Four Countries” point-to-point connectivity offering incredible values at low fares.

 

With the convenience of flying out of Subang, Firefly also offers incredible value with low fares, that includes 20kg check-in baggage allowance, assigned seating and in-flight refreshment.

 

Source : http://blog.fireflyz.com.my/2010/08/firefly-increases-its-turboprop-fleet-to-10-atr72-500s/

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Maybe MH would stop being so LCC-esque and let FY do the job.

 

Malaysia Airlines Takes On AirAsia

Aug 24, 2010

 

By Leithen Francis Leithen_Francis@aviationweek.com

SINGAPORE

 

Malaysia Airlines’ turboprop operation Firefly is planning to add Boeing 737s to compete directly against low-faree carrier AirAsia, as well as move in on its turf in Kuala Lumpur.

 

Industry sources say Firefly plans to add 737-400s as early as this year and it will start competing on routes served by AirAsia.

 

Firefly operates a fleet of seven ATR 72-500s. It started operations in early 2007 and has until now refrained from directly competing against AirAsia. It has instead focused on serving domestic and international destinations that are under served by major carriers or destinations that can only be served using turboprop aircraft.

 

Industry sources say Firefly is profitable and the carrier is now looking to add 737-400s for major domestic trunk routes, particularly those routes linking West and East Malaysia.

 

As a consequence, Firefly will be establishing a base at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, home of AirAsia. Firefly has its main base at Kuala Lumpur’s Subang Airport, but the authorities only allow passenger airlines to operate propeller aircraft to Subang.

 

Firefly Managing Director Eddy Leong declined to comment when contacted today, except to say: “Firefly has submitted an application to relevant authorities for expansion of its operations.”

 

“We will furnish more information once the approvals are obtained.”

 

It is unclear where the 737-400s will be acquired from, but Firefly’s parent Malaysia Airlines has a large fleet of 737-400s that it is phasing out as it takes delivery of Boeing 737-800s on order. MAS’ first 737-800, on order, is due to arrive in October.

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