MAS Privatisation

[Craig 0]

2 hours ago, Robert said:

Anyone know how much TH to SG have to India?

Unfortunately I do not have that on top of my head. But IIRC, Indian carriers need to use, don't quote me, 75% of their allocated seats before the foreign country can increase their seats. There are also some behind the scenes trade that can facilitate for an increment, e.g. MH sold/gave their daytime LHR slots (for MH 7/8) to Air India and Malaysia was granted more seats to India.

Or if Malaysia is cash rich like Qatar, we can always wet lease planes from India and have them fly MY-IN, or Qantas for SYD/MEL-KUL.

[Robert 0]

3 minutes ago, Craig said:

Unfortunately I do not have that on top of my head. But IIRC, Indian carriers need to use, don't quote me, 75% of their allocated seats before the foreign country can increase their seats. There are also some behind the scenes trade that can facilitate for an increment, e.g. MH sold/gave their daytime LHR slots (for MH 7/8) to Air India and Malaysia was granted more seats to India.

Or if Malaysia is cash rich like Qatar, we can always wet lease planes from India and have them fly MY-IN, or Qantas for SYD/MEL-KUL.

I thought the 'giving of slots' was due to MH owing a lot of money to Air India. 

[Craig 0]

9 minutes ago, Robert said:

I thought the 'giving of slots' was due to MH owing a lot of money to Air India. 

I forgot the details about the slot swap and I don't think it was ever disclosed publicly. But googling online makes it seems like MH wants to terminate code-share with AI and India threatening to restrict MH from operating to India. The slot swap happened in April 2007 and a new MOU was signed July 2007.

[JuliusWong 0]

44 minutes ago, Craig said:

I forgot the details about the slot swap and I don't think it was ever disclosed publicly. But googling online makes it seems like MH wants to terminate code-share with AI and India threatening to restrict MH from operating to India. The slot swap happened in April 2007 and a new MOU was signed July 2007.

MH could not make the third slot work well for them since the timing and frequency were highly not desired, and had tried many different pattern. KUL-LGK-LHR vv. and KUL-PEN-LHR vv. at different times 20 years ago. It was bleeding heavily in red. It was finally leased our to Air India in 2007 for free during Idris Jala's period as MH CEO.

Managed to dig out this information in airliners.net, I believe he was a member here before:

Quote

Malaysia Airlines operated 3 flights a day KUL-LHR for some time on certain days.

MH2 continues daily departing KUL at 2340 and arriving at 0550 the next morning. This is MAS' flagship route.
MH4 continues daily and has been retimed to leave daily at 1200 and arrive at 1810.
MH8 has now been removed and flew 4x week at 0900 arriving at 1510.

MH8 could have been operated daily if there was sufficient demand for capacity.
Due to poor loads - MAS tried routing these flights on the inbound to KUL via LGK (x2 weekly) and via PEN (x2 weekly).
That move proved to be a disaster as it merely added extra flying time for the majority of passengers who were enroute to KUL for onward connections - so as part of its Business Turnaround Plan (to return to profit) this routing was axed and MH 4 and MH 8 shared the daily daylight flight to London - ie. on certain days it flew as MH4 leaving at 1200 and on other days it flew as MH8 leaving at 0900.
This has now been standardised back to a daily MH4 only.

MAS obtained 21 slots into LHR after BA left KUL and relinquished its traffic rights to MAS as part of its withdrawal - henc MAS has spare capacity.

With the advent of the A380s arriving soon - i guess MAS figured it will be happy to continue operating a twice daily service for the time being as at least one of the two daily flights will soon be switched to the A380.

With regards to the 'fees' - i expect this might have something to do with the recent wranglings between India and Malaysia over traffic rights between India and Malaysia. (see other thread)

very briefly - India has accused Malaysia of not honouring its end of the Air Services Agreement by not letting Air Sahara and Air India Express operate into Malaysia and has threatened to bar Malaysia Airlines from flying into India.
This is all rather confusing since Air Sahara already operates into Kuala Lumpur and airlines in India collectively far exceed Malaysia Airlines' in their capacity and frequencies of flights between India and Malaysia. I guess, this deal may result in a 'sweetener' to a new deal between India and Malaysia and allow Malaysia Airlines to press on with its much needed expansion into India.

 

[Robert 0]

2 hours ago, JuliusWong said:

MH could not make the third slot work well for them since the timing and frequency were highly not desired, and had tried many different pattern. KUL-LGK-LHR vv. and KUL-PEN-LHR vv. at different times 20 years ago. It was bleeding heavily in red. It was finally leased our to Air India in 2007 for free during Idris Jala's period as MH CEO.

Managed to dig out this information in airliners.net, I believe he was a member here before:

 

This came on some months ago... let me see what I can find later.

[Robert 0]

2 hours ago, JuliusWong said:

MH could not make the third slot work well for them since the timing and frequency were highly not desired, and had tried many different pattern. KUL-LGK-LHR vv. and KUL-PEN-LHR vv. at different times 20 years ago. It was bleeding heavily in red. It was finally leased our to Air India in 2007 for free during Idris Jala's period as MH CEO.

Managed to dig out this information in airliners.net, I believe he was a member here before:

 

This last came up on late August 2023
The exact reason why the slots were given up for "free" is not confirmed.

Aside from what you have mentioned others have said it was in reduce/remove AI's right to sell to seats on MH flights.
Another person is that it's a contra payment for AI channeled pax to MH to LAX, AUS, etc. 

This archive always confirms that the slots sent for free. https://web.archive.org/web/20120721032111/http://www.uk-airport-news.info/heathrow-airport-news-310507.htm

[KK Lee 5]

9 hours ago, Craig said:

I forgot the details about the slot swap and I don't think it was ever disclosed publicly. But googling online makes it seems like MH wants to terminate code-share with AI and India threatening to restrict MH from operating to India. The slot swap happened in April 2007 and a new MOU was signed July 2007.

 

9 hours ago, Robert said:

I thought the 'giving of slots' was due to MH owing a lot of money to Air India. 

AI channeled pax to MH for many years, MH didn't pay AI and end up, MH owed AI a few ten millions USD. MH LHR slot was pay in lieu of debts owed.

 

[Craig 0]

13 hours ago, Robert said:

This last came up on late August 2023
The exact reason why the slots were given up for "free" is not confirmed.

Aside from what you have mentioned others have said it was in reduce/remove AI's right to sell to seats on MH flights.
Another person is that it's a contra payment for 

AI channeled pax to MH to LAX, AUS, etc. 

I stand corrected.

[Robert 0]

I saw some complaints about delays yesterday. MH 2544 was 6 hours late. An equipment swap was involved but a tardy turn around in previous sectors compounds things. 

MH1450 to LGK was almost 2 hours late following a delay out of Tawau and they further slow turnarounds. Don't have any more specifics at the moment.

Anyone know how many 737's are unplanned AOG?  

[Robert 0]

On 7/27/2024 at 9:28 AM, Robert said:

I saw some complaints about delays yesterday. MH 2544 was 6 hours late. An equipment swap was involved but a tardy turn around in previous sectors compounds things. 

MH1450 to LGK was almost 2 hours late following a delay out of Tawau and they further slow turnarounds. Don't have any more specifics at the moment.

Anyone know how many 737's are unplanned AOG?  

Seems that there are still issues and BKK flights are affected. There are probably more but these were called out.

Yesterday (Sunday) 
MH788 - delayed 3 hours
MH782 - delayed 4 hours
MH774 - Delayed almost 90 mins

Today (Monday)
MH778 - retimed 5 hours later
MH782  - Cancelled
MH774 - replaced with an A350

Edited July 28 by Robert

[Pall 0]

6 hours ago, Robert said:

Seems that there are still issues and BKK flights are affected. There are probably more but these were called out.

Yesterday (Sunday) 
MH788 - delayed 3 hours
MH782 - delayed 4 hours
MH774 - Delayed almost 90 mins

Today (Monday)
MH778 - retimed 5 hours later
MH782  - Cancelled
MH774 - replaced with an A350

MH got to reap what they sow from their poor fleet management decision making. 

[Craig 0]

MH will resume BNE beginning 15 March 2025 with 5 weekly A333 flights (where do they get the seats from)?

MH135 KUL1940 – 0545+1BNE 333 35
MH135 KUL2010 – 0615+1BNE 333 146

MH134 BNE0700 – 1310KUL 333 46
MH134 BNE0750 – 1400KUL 333 257

Are they in a rush to turnaround the plane to somewhere for the 1500-1600 departure bank at KUL or is an BNE slot issue? Otherwise why the rush to fly it back so early from BNE? The only A333 flight I can think of that leaves around those time is ICN/BKK/CGK. 
 

And they only scheduled 1:15 for turnaround on Thursdays and Saturdays? Good luck 😬

Edited July 29 by Craig

[Ivan_Endi 0]

Malaysia Airlines in the first quarter of 2025 plans to resume Kota Kinabalu – Tokyo route, on board boeing 737-800 aircraft. Upon service resumption on 24FEB25, the oneWorld member will operate service to/from Tokyo Haneda, replacing Tokyo Narita.

This route is scheduled twice weekly.

MH082 BKI1605 – 2235HND 73H 14
MH083 HND0015 – 0545BKI 73H 25

[BC Tam 2]

I thought Haneda slots are supposed to be dearer than gold dust, reserved for premium traffic ? Why they flying to some secondary, low yield station like BKI ? 😁

[Robert 0]

1 hour ago, Craig said:

MH will resume BNE beginning 15 March 2025 with 5 weekly A333 flights (where do they get the seats from)?

MH135 KUL1940 – 0545+1BNE 333 35
MH135 KUL2010 – 0615+1BNE 333 146

MH134 BNE0700 – 1310KUL 333 46
MH134 BNE0750 – 1400KUL 333 257

Are they in a rush to turnaround the plane to somewhere for the 1500-1600 departure bank at KUL or is an BNE slot issue? Otherwise why the rush to fly it back so early from BNE? The only A333 flight I can think of that leaves around those time is ICN/BKK/CGK. 
 

And they only scheduled 1:15 for turnaround on Thursdays and Saturdays? Good luck 😬

MH struggle to turn around a moderately loaded 737 in BKK/SIN/CGK in less than an hour to how on earth do they think that they can do a A333 ay BNE in 75 mins unless... the planes are very lightly loaded due to the seat capacity restrictions and they are using it for cargo?

Personally I believe that they will either allocate some of their existing capacity of have been told that they will be allocated more seats from another carrier.

[Robert 0]

27 minutes ago, BC Tam said:

I thought Haneda slots are supposed to be dearer than gold dust, reserved for premium traffic ? Why they flying to some secondary, low yield station like BKI ? 😁

The way that some refer to BKI they believe its the high yield center of the universe. 

[Craig 0]

41 minutes ago, Robert said:

Personally I believe that they will either allocate some of their existing capacity of have been told that they will be allocated more seats from another carrier.

Just look at their AKL/PER flights. It's almost always delayed for the return sector and it ripples throughout the entire network. 

I don't think they'd have a lot of seat restrictions by then. 727 seats only require 3x weekly flights. I assume there's a new air services agreement or another carrier relinquished their rights. They won't be cutting down SYD/MEL for sure. PER is a maybe tho. 

1 hour ago, BC Tam said:

I thought Haneda slots are supposed to be dearer than gold dust, reserved for premium traffic ? Why they flying to some secondary, low yield station like BKI ? 😁

 I was thinking about that too. And the flight seems too long for a turnaround. So either crew is happy for the 2-3 nights stay in Tokyo or a deadhead which sacrifices quite a fair bit of real estate. And who wants to fly that 73H on a redeye for 5.5 hours 😱

[Robert 0]

10 minutes ago, Craig said:

Just look at their AKL/PER flights. It's almost always delayed for the return sector and it ripples throughout the entire network. 

I don't think they'd have a lot of seat restrictions by then. 727 seats only require 3x weekly flights. I assume there's a new air services agreement or another carrier relinquished their rights. They won't be cutting down SYD/MEL for sure. PER is a maybe tho. 

 I was thinking about that too. And the flight seems too long for a turnaround. So either crew is happy for the 2-3 nights stay in Tokyo or a deadhead which sacrifices quite a fair bit of real estate. And who wants to fly that 73H on a redeye for 5.5 hours 😱

I was flying PEN-KUL last month and an Air Asia fulled pulled in minute or two before the MH plane. It took forever for us to be allowed to board, then it was mess (too many bags) and then we sat there with no update. The AK plane was up in the air before we were even close to leaving.  When I was flying weekly from Changi a lot of the time it seemed that people were not in a hurry get things moving. 

Now back to seat capacity. 
The topic we discussed this morning (KUL-DPS-BNE) The aircraft capacity is 180 seats and they operate 6 weekly making that a total of 1,080 seats against an allotted capacity of 2,016.

I reckon some of this will get moved to MH 

[Craig 0]

11 minutes ago, Robert said:

I was flying PEN-KUL last month and an Air Asia fulled pulled in minute or two before the MH plane. It took forever for us to be allowed to board, then it was mess (too many bags) and then we sat there with no update. The AK plane was up in the air before we were even close to leaving.  When I was flying weekly from Changi a lot of the time it seemed that people were not in a hurry get things moving. 

Now back to seat capacity. 
The topic we discussed this morning (KUL-DPS-BNE) The aircraft capacity is 180 seats and they operate 6 weekly making that a total of 1,080 seats against an allotted capacity of 2,016.

I reckon some of this will get moved to MH 

I assume AK has less things to load (e.g. food, water, cargo, bags) and their staff are more efficient. I remember this happened to me before but I can't remember if it was AK and MH or another full service carrier and a LCC at an outstation. 

The best part about this BNE/HND flights is the flights aren't even open for sale yet. So I am curious if the ICN 737 Max 8 intern is back 🤣. Previously, MH made a huge announcement about DAD, MLE, CNX launch with socials and news release but nothing was announced for BNE/HND.

[Robert 0]

The 737 ops issue continue. MH2641 BKI-KUL has diverted to KCH due to a tech issue. No news yet on when it can be fixed 

[JuliusWong 0]

Rex Airlines is rumoured to be in trouble, maybe MH management can call their lessors to secure some of their 10 B737-800NGs. Seating configuration 8J 168Y.

[JuliusWong 0]

Malaysia Airlines is mounting a rescue flight for 9M-MLR which has been grounded in DAC since June 10, 2024. When 9M-MLR incident happened, 9M-MXU flight from HYD suffered the same fate on June 20, 2024. MH had only one spare engine at that time, so it was decided to bring back MXU first then MLR. 

For those asking why it took so long to bring back the aircraft? Reason is because the Bangladesh custom was asking for USD1.5million for custom clearance, a lot of wrangling happened behind the scene, after some tough negotiation, the final bill came to USD150,000.

9M-MXU has since returned to service.

Currently, out of:

• 42 B737-800NG, four are parked: 9M-FFF, 9M-MLO, 9M-MLQ, 9M-MLR (in DAC, require repair).
• For some reason, 9M-MXR and 9M-MXW are flying far fewer sectors compared to other siblings. 9M-MXX wise even fewer with last flight on July 25, 2024 from Delhi.
• 21 A330-200/300, three are undergoing repair and maintenance: 9M-MTG, 9M-MTH, 9M-MTI
• 7 A350-900, one undergoing repair and maintenance: 9M-MAG

Edited July 29 by JuliusWong

[JuliusWong 0]

Quote

Malaysia Airlines NW24 International Service Changes – 29JUL24

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240730-mhnw24intl

NW24 Oneworld
Written By Jim Liu
Published at 0001GMT 30JUL24

Malaysia Airlines in last week’s schedule update filed various changes to its international service for Northern winter 2024/25 season, effective 27OCT24 – 29MAR25. The following is the complete list of major changes as of 29JUL24. 
 
Note the term “initially filed” was referring to schedule as of 26MAY24, as the following comparison is based on listing 26MAY24 vs 29JUL24. Selected service increases are not available for reservations at time this post goes to press.
 
Kuala Lumpur – Ahmedabad eff 31OCT24 2 of 4 weekly 737 MAX 8 replaces -800
Kuala Lumpur – Amritsar eff 14NOV24 Increase from 7 to 9 weekly, 737-800
Kuala Lumpur – Auckland 
27OCT24 – 29DEC24 8 weekly A330-300, instead of 4 weekly each -200/-300 eff 30DEC24 A330-900neo operates on 4 of 8 weekly flights (all service operated by -900neo from 29JAN25. Note Auckland departure is also now displaying A330neo service as of Monday 29JUL24)
 
Kuala Lumpur – Bangalore 10 weekly service maintained, instead of initially filed 11 weekly
Kuala Lumpur – Chennai 10 weekly service maintained, instead of initially filed 12 weekly
Kuala Lumpur – Chiang Mai eff 25FEB25 Increase from 4 to 7 weekly, 737-800
Kuala Lumpur – Colombo 28OCT24 – 16NOV24 4 of 7 weekly 737 MAX 8 replaces -800
Kuala Lumpur – Delhi 
* MH190/191 eff 27OCT24 A330-300 operates 1 daily, instead of initially filed 6 weekly A330-300, 1 weekly 737-800
* MH172/173 eff 29OCT24 737 MAX 8 replaces -800 (3 weekly. Note MH173 from DEL continues to list -800 aircraft)

Kuala Lumpur – Denpasar
* MH715/714 25OCT24 – 28DEC24 A330-200 operates along with -300 (Planned 1 daily A330-300 now scheduled from 29DEC24)
* MH853/852 737 MAX 8 operates on 26MAR25
 
Kuala Lumpur – Dhaka eff 27OCT24 MH196/197 737-800/MAX 8 replaces A330-300 (Overall 2 daily 737-800/MAX
Kuala Lumpur – Guangzhou 
20NOV24 – 30JAN25 2 of 7 weekly A330-300 replaces -200
eff 31JAN25 4 of 7 weekly A330-900neo replaces -200 (Overall 3rd A330-900neo route)
eff 17FEB25 3 of 7 weekly A330-200 service replaced by -300 (Overall to be 3 weekly -300 and 4 weekly -900neo)
 
Kuala Lumpur – Hanoi eff 26NOV24 1 of 7 weekly 737 MAX 8 replaces -800 (4 from 25DEC24, 6 from 31JAN25. A330-200 is also scheduled on one-time basis on 23DEC24)
Kuala Lumpur – Ho Chi Minh City 21 weekly service maintained, instead of initially filed 19
Kuala Lumpur – Hong Kong 
eff 27OCT24 Increase from 2 to 3 daily. 737 MAX 8 begins operating along with the -800 
* MH078/079 A330-200/-300 operates on selected dates in Nov/Dec 2024

Kuala Lumpur – Jakarta 49th weekly service maintained, instead of initially filed 48
Kuala Lumpur – Kathmandu 
eff 29OCT24 737 MAX 8 operates 9 weekly round-trip (2 from 10NOV24)
eff 14NOV24 Increase from 10 to 12 weekly

Kuala Lumpur – Kochi eff 30OCT24 1 of 7 weekly 737 MAX 8 replaces -800 (4 of 7 weekly from 25NOV24, all service by 737 MAX from 26DEC24)
Kuala Lumpur – Male eff 27OCT24 6 of 7 weekly 737 MAX 8 replaces -800
Kuala Lumpur – Manila eff 27OCT24 Increase from 19 to 21 weekly, 737 MAX 8 operates along with the -800
Kuala Lumpur – Melbourne eff 25NOV24 Previously reported, A330-900neo operates MH149/148 on Day x2 (Day x3 from MEL)
Kuala Lumpur – Mumbai eff 30OCT24 737 MAX 8 operates MH174/175 on Day 36 (Day 356 from 28FEB25)
Kuala Lumpur – Perth 
eff 27OCT24 MH125/124 737 MAX 8 replaces -800 (5 weekly)
eff 03JAN25 MH127/126 2 of 7 weekly A330-300 replaces -200 (3 from 04FEB25)
 
Kuala Lumpur – Phnom Penh 14 weekly service maintained, instead of initially filed 10
Kuala Lumpur – Shanghai Pu Dong 
* 14 weekly service maintained, instead of initially filed 10
* MH386/387 1 daily A330-300 from 18FEB25, instead of A330-200/-300 mix

Kuala Lumpur – Sydney 25NOV24 – 10FEB25 Increase from 14 to 16 weekly, A330-300 (Additional flights not available for reservations)
MH7031 KUL0005 – 1125SYD 333 15
MH7030 SYD1310 – 1845KUL 333 15

Kuala Lumpur – Taipei Taoyuan 
* 737 MAX 8 operates following periods
09NOV24 – 16NOV24 Day 6
18NOV24 – 23NOV24 Day x257
11DEC24 – 25DEC24 Day 3

* Last A330-200 flight to Taipei in NW24 is scheduled on 17NOV24 (Service operated by a mix of 737-800 and A330-300 until 31DEC24. 1 daily A330-300 from 01JAN25)

Kuala Lumpur – Thiruvananthapuram eff 27OCT24 Tentative increase from 4 to 7 weekly. Additional flights are not available for reservations

By March 2025, Malaysia Airlines’ A330-200 service consists of service to Jakarta, Jeddah, Madinah and Perth.

Previously reported changes:
Kota Kinabalu – Tokyo Haneda eff 24FEB25 2 weekly 737-800 (Service resumes while replacing Tokyo Narita. This sector was last served until January 2012)
Kuala Lumpur – Brisbane eff 15MAR25 5 weekly A330-300, service resumptions
Kuala Lumpur – Seoul Incheon eff 27OCT24 MH038/039 continues to be served by A330-300, instead of briefly filed 737 MAX 8 (Overall 12 weekly)
Kuala Lumpur – Tokyo Narita eff 03FEB25 Increase from 12 to 14 weekly, additional 2 weekly operated by A330-300, instead of A350-900XWB

A330-200 service shall be condemned to CGK, JED, MED and PER soon by March 2025.

[Robert 0]

10 hours ago, JuliusWong said:

Malaysia Airlines is mounting a rescue flight for 9M-MLR which has been grounded in DAC since June 10, 2024. When 9M-MLR incident happened, 9M-MXU flight from HYD suffered the same fate on June 20, 2024. MH had only one spare engine at that time, so it was decided to bring back MXU first then MLR. 

For those asking why it took so long to bring back the aircraft? Reason is because the Bangladesh custom was asking for USD1.5million for custom clearance, a lot of wrangling happened behind the scene, after some tough negotiation, the final bill came to USD150,000.

9M-MXU has since returned to service.

Currently, out of:

• 42 B737-800NG, four are parked: 9M-FFF, 9M-MLO, 9M-MLQ, 9M-MLR (in DAC, require repair).
• For some reason, 9M-MXR and 9M-MXW are flying far fewer sectors compared to other siblings. 9M-MXX wise even fewer with last flight on July 25, 2024 from Delhi.
• 21 A330-200/300, three are undergoing repair and maintenance: 9M-MTG, 9M-MTH, 9M-MTI
• 7 A350-900, one undergoing repair and maintenance: 9M-MAG

While I was sitting clearing 100's of FB joiner requesters last night you were doing something far more useful and fun inc the timetable changes haha

9M-MSE is AOG in Kuching since yesterday's diversion. FR24 seems to indicate that it could return today but not sure how accurate this is.

[Craig 0]

I guess ATQ surprised everyone at MH? It started off with 2 weekly last year and in just over a year, MH will increase it to 9x weekly! I know those BA TP runners will be very happy with this. And it seems like they are reorganizing their Indian metropolitan cities capacity.

And is MH receiving a lot of 7M8s soon? They have quite a bit of 7M8s planned for their Winter schedule.