MAS Briefing at 16th World Route Development Forum

[Mushrif A 3]

I never heard of people transiting in Saudi Arabia to be honest.

 

 

 

Well, I have!

 

OT:

 

GF to MH @JED.

 

Obviously the infra at JED is not catered at all for transit pax (a rare species over there). And I didnt even have a KSA visa then. On arrival @JED North Terminal, a ground agent took my passport and escorted me to landside (unofficially entering KSA) to retrieve my bag (which was already tagged for the onward sector), take it to checkin landside, and get onward BP at the landside counter - before going back airside. (It now looks like what a self-transferring pax would do between AK flights, minus immigration clearance!). Not sure if the refurbished JED terminals now cater for transit pax - I didnt see any transfer counters @airside recently.

 

The incoming GF flight was late - and the transit process was so time-consuming (manual all the way) - I was the last pax to get onboard the MH 744 (which was parked far way at the Hajj terminal - but it was a normal scheduled flight) and my checked luggage actually travelled with me all the way to the plane stairs before ground personnel took it to store it in the 744's belly.

 

So, now you do know at least one who has transited in KSA.

 

But certainly not for the faint hearted.

[BC Tam 2]

With many airlines are joining this club including EK, QR and soon SQ (when their planned SIN-BCN-GRU flight finally take off), there is no way that MH is going to lose out.

Don't be absolutely sure on that yet - you don't hear MH bragging too much about being a '6 continent airline' nowadays

Perhaps the perceived prestige value is not reaping the expected rewards ?

So, if for some reason (technical or economical) the route gets difficult, out it goes

(yes, it does sound amazing doesn't it - that MH can do the logical at the right moment ?! )

 

 

Agreed. Based on paper calculation, the A359 or B772LR definitely have the range for this missions.

I thought the issue is whether there are two or four engines hanging from the wings, not range ?

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

I thought the issue is whether there are two or four engines hanging from the wings, not range?

This is in response to Mushrif's explanation that MH could only do flights to the US non stop using non A345 aircraft.

[KK Lee 5]

European routes are not that profitable as Europe has become a highly expensive place to visit. This will be further compounded by the imposition of punitive airport taxes in many EU countries.

 

In the longer term we might even see MH using the Middle East for their flights to the US. E.g. KUL-JED-EWR. This kind of routing may require the A380/B77W/B789/A359 aircraft. That is why MH is pausing for a while to take stock of the aviation industry trends. Lets see what they do next...

 

On the other hand, it will be cheap for European to visit other countries. At current exchange rate, find Europe is not expensive relatively. Compare with restaurants in KL, European restaurant price is very reasonable. Hotel in Europe is about the same as Singapore, Australia, HKG or Makati (MNL). If taxi can be avoided, public transport is value for money.

 

MH is losing market share to Middle East carriers on kangaroo route, not sure how they will fare in Middle East home ground? Given EK has limited access to JED, Saudi is unlikely will grant MH 5th freedom right from JED.

[BC Tam 2]

This is in response to Mushrif's explanation that MH could only do flights to the US non stop using non A345 aircraft.

Ah, beg your pardon then

US non stop would logically mean flying in the other direction - no restriction on whether there are two or four hanging down ......

 

On the other hand, it will be cheap for European to visit other countries. At current exchange rate, find Europe is not expensive relatively.

Actually, it has become comparatively more expensive for Europeans (in particular the Brits) to visit us here lately - compared to say three years ago

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

I thought the issue is whether there are two or four engines hanging from the wings, not range ?

 

If the twinjet's certified for ETOPS, then it wouldn't be a problem. The only twinjet currently capable of flying to EZE from CPT is the 77W.

[flee 5]

ROUTES: Kualu Lumpur Airport bullish on growth

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is again seeing double-digit traffic growth, driven by continued growth at Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia as well as by legacy carriers.

 

"Previously we saw a lot of growth from the low-cost side. Now we see more balanced growth from both sectors, which is good," says Malaysia Airports general manager of marketing Sallauddin Mat Sah. "Full service is poised to take advantage of the recovery in the industry."

 

In the first half of this year, KLIA handled 16.2 million passengers, compared with 13.5 million for the same period last year. Sallauddin says flag carrier Malaysia Airlines is growing again and KLIA also has secured this year three new airlines - Iran's Mahan Air, Oman Air and Royal Jordanian. In 2009, two carriers - Air Zimbabwe and Air Astana - launched services to Kuala Lumpur.

 

Sallauddin says for many of these new carriers, important meetings took place during the 2008 World Route Development Forum, which Kuala Lumpur hosted. "What Routes Kuala Lumpur has done is we were able to showcase what the airport and city can offer. Now all airlines of the world have better understanding of what a destination Kuala Lumpur is," he says.

 

At this year's forum, Malaysia Airports again has a big exhibit and a large delegation consisting of more than 20 employees, including its chairman and managing director. The company last month celebrated the groundbreaking of a new low-cost terminal in Kuala Lumpur, which is now scheduled to open in April 2012. Salluaddin says the new terminal, which replaces a cramped temporary low-cost terminal, is "meant to cater to AirAsia's requirement because they have a larger growing fleet". But it will also be open to other carriers.

 

The new low-cost terminal will be connected to downtown Kuala Lumpur and the main terminal by rail. Sallauddin says there will also be an airside bus connection between the two terminals. He says Malaysia Airports also plans to introduce early next year an airside bus service connecting the temporary low-cost terminal and main terminal. Currently passengers connecting between the two terminals have to endure a 30 minute drive and the KLIA Express Train does not serve the low-cost facility.

 

Sallauddin says Malaysia's second-largest airport, Kota Kinabalu International, is also growing fast. He says a runway project at Kota Kinabalu will be completed early next year. At about the same time the airport's temporary low-cost terminal will be closed and AirAsia will move to the main terminal where he says there is plenty of room to accommodate AirAsia's fast-growing Kota Kinabalu hub as well as other growth. "It will result in better service for passengers," he says.

 

The growth in Kinabalu is being driven mainly by new services from China, Korea and Japan, as the Malaysian state of Sabah "has become a very popular leisure destination".

 

Source: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/09/21/347576/routes-kualu-lumpur-airport-bullish-on-growth.html

 

Via Middle east? Forget it. MH will never be able to compete with QR, EK, EY. The way forward to the US will probably be nonstops but using more economical planes (not A345s).

Well I did say over the long term... Right now, even the A380 cannot do KUL-EWR direct with max pax carried. So a longer range aircraft will still be needed.

[KK Lee 5]

MH yield to LAX and EWR have been low. Not sure they will ever attract enough premium pax to justify ULR non-stop service to the U.S.

 

 

Actually, it has become comparatively more expensive for Europeans (in particular the Brits) to visit us here lately - compared to say three years ago

True. Airline is one of the very few business that demand is fairly 'neutral' to currency exchange rate movement.

Edited September 23, 2010 by KK Lee

[flee 5]

Not just exchange rates - I mentioned in my post Airport Taxes are getting ridiculous too. Just look at what the UK charges here: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2008/pbrn20.pdf

[Josh T 0]

ROUTES: Kualu Lumpur Airport bullish on growth

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is again seeing double-digit traffic growth, driven by continued growth at Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia as well as by legacy carriers.

 

"Previously we saw a lot of growth from the low-cost side. Now we see more balanced growth from both sectors, which is good," says Malaysia Airports general manager of marketing Sallauddin Mat Sah. "Full service is poised to take advantage of the recovery in the industry."

 

In the first half of this year, KLIA handled 16.2 million passengers, compared with 13.5 million for the same period last year. Sallauddin says flag carrier Malaysia Airlines is growing again and KLIA also has secured this year three new airlines - Iran's Mahan Air, Oman Air and Royal Jordanian. In 2009, two carriers - Air Zimbabwe and Air Astana - launched services to Kuala Lumpur.

Nice to see that MH is also recording growth through the main terminal.

Linking the LCCT and the MTB will benefit both airlines. For AK, it will especially benfit domestic passengers on transit from international flights. For MH, it will benefit international passengers on transit from domestic flights.

[Alif A. F. 0]

Well I did say over the long term... Right now, even the A380 cannot do KUL-EWR direct with max pax carried. So a longer range aircraft will still be needed.

 

Hmmm, probably MH should consider buying Boeing 777-200LR...with 240 - 280 passenger capacity maybe...

 

Sallauddin says Malaysia's second-largest airport, Kota Kinabalu International, is also growing fast. He says a runway project at Kota Kinabalu will be completed early next year. At about the same time the airport's temporary low-cost terminal will be closed and AirAsia will move to the main terminal where he says there is plenty of room to accommodate AirAsia's fast-growing Kota Kinabalu hub as well as other growth. "It will result in better service for passengers," he says.

 

I realised that out of 9 gates in T1, only 7 are equipped with aerobridges, the other 2 are completely encased in glass already.

Edited September 23, 2010 by Alif A. F.

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

MH yield to LAX and EWR have been low. Not sure they will ever attract enough premium pax to justify ULR non-stop service to the U.S.

For MH to mimic SQ that flies non stop to the US using an all Premium Class configuration would be impossible, but TG, whose nature is a bit resembling that of MH to a certain degrees, is also flying non stop to LAX with ULH aircraft. Considering the route is making profit, with the right cabin and seat configurations, MH may make it viable as well (of course there are other parameters to consider such as TG is in an alliance while MH is not, BKK is a Star and OneWorld Alliances hubs while KUL is so not any of them).

 

Providing daily KUL-LAX vv flight non stop should be a long term goal for MH. As for New York, I am not sure if MH can ever make it profitable. Question, if MH wants to relaunch New York with the routing KUL-HNL-EWR/JFK/LGA, would it be possible? Some points to consider: Honolulu was a former station for MH and that the Honolulu-New York flight is a domestic leg within the US. Distance wise, this option can be done using MH's existing fleet without having to purchase an ULH range aircraft.

[Josh T 0]

My goodness! MH hasn't flown to HNL in like forever! Although, the idea of a KUL-LAX-JFK/LGA/EWR service is quite an appealing one. Can the B777-200ER fly non-stop between KUL and LAX or is it only possible with the B777-200LR? As for HNL, would it hold much appeal for Malaysians?

[Alif A. F. 0]

My goodness! MH hasn't flown to HNL in like forever! Although, the idea of a KUL-LAX-JFK/LGA/EWR service is quite an appealing one. Can the B777-200ER fly non-stop between KUL and LAX or is it only possible with the B777-200LR? As for HNL, would it hold much appeal for Malaysians?

 

The question will go down to capacity...surely B77L is marketed to fly 9,380 nm(17,370 km)carrying standard 305 passengers...

[Josh T 0]

Offering a non-stop service between KUL and LAX will make it more attractive for travellers. Doesn't SQ provide a non-stop SIN-LAX service? And TG with non-stop BKK-LAX?

[Johan Z 0]

Hmmm, probably MH should consider buying Boeing 777-200LR...with 240 - 280 passenger capacity maybe...

 

 

787-8 comes to mind. It carries less pax (compared to 777/A340), but can fly long distance.

Edited September 23, 2010 by Johan Z