All Things FireFly

[Craig 0]

The PEN-KUL-PEN is timed for the KUL-NKG turnaround.

FY2954 PEN1600 - 1700KUL 738 246
FY2955 KUL0700 - 0800PEN 738 357

FY3842 KUL1740 – 2315NKG 738 246
FY3843 NKG0015 – 0545KUL 738 357

Good luck turning around FY2954 to FY 3842 in 40 minutes. I have a feeling FY 3842/3843 will be delayed quite often. I assume crew will operate FY2954-3842. Not sure if they'd deadhead back or stay in Nanjing for 2-3 nights.

[JuliusWong 0]

FIREFLY ADDS KUALA LUMPUR – NANJING SERVICE FROM LATE-JUNE 2024
NS24 Written By Jim Liu
Published at 0800GMT 24MAY24

Firefly from late-June 2024 plans to add new service to Mainland China, based on schedule listing that lists Kuala Lumpur – Nanjing route, on board Boeing 737-800 aircraft. From 20JUN24, service operates 2 weekly, increasing to 3 weekly from 29JUN24.
 
FY3842 KUL1740 – 2315NKG 738 246
FY3843 NKG0015 – 0545KUL 738 357

Source : https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240524-fyjun24nkg

[BC Tam 2]

Safe to assume the FY BKI hub project is now more or less over ?!  🙄

[JuliusWong 0]

1 hour ago, BC Tam said:

Safe to assume the FY BKI hub project is now more or less over ?!  🙄

They don't have enough aircraft at the first place, don't know whose great idea to do NRT and TPE.  Second MH management keeps fidgeting around their strategy with FY, one moment ini, esok itu...how la??! Third, few of their pilots resigned and heading to Middle East, BKI hub operation crumbled. 

MAG really need a good and competent management! Captain Izham is not going to be here any longer in few months, I fear for worst.

[Pall 0]

9 hours ago, JuliusWong said:

They don't have enough aircraft at the first place, don't know whose great idea to do NRT and TPE.  Second MH management keeps fidgeting around their strategy with FY, one moment ini, esok itu...how la??! Third, few of their pilots resigned and heading to Middle East, BKI hub operation crumbled. 

MAG really need a good and competent management! Captain Izham is not going to be here any longer in few months, I fear for worst.

With MH already operating like a LCC, its best they handover back all airframes to MH and consolidate. Already MH is struggling with shortage of aircraft due to poor fleet planning and replacement. 

[JuliusWong 0]

4 hours ago, Pall said:

With MH already operating like a LCC, its best they handover back all airframes to MH and consolidate. Already MH is struggling with shortage of aircraft due to poor fleet planning and replacement. 

Yes, what you stated is true. MH was too optimistic that Boeing is able to deliver their max on schedule. However, it doesn't take an Einstein to know Boeing is not able to do so since 2019 max grounding. Fast forward to 2024, Boeing is hit with issues left, right and center for both their narrowbody and widebody program. MH's newest 737max MVC is a lemon aircraft with many issues, the max delivery for 2024 was supposed to be eight units, now it is scaled down to three/ four. Quite a big capacity shortfall. To worsen the issue, the Finance dept is reluctant to open their purse to pay for leased aircraft, prefer to go around bargaining-begging lessors for discounted rate. So malu~~~  While they are begging, all those available frames are quickly snapped up by others. And now they are flirting with SZB jet operation with FY, when their PEN and BKI hub operation are barely make it to maturity. 0.0

MH like government, only buy enough assets to carry out of operation, without any additional units as back up/ spare. So when one is down for maintenance or crashed for some reasons, the whole operation is screwed. This is what is happening to our air force, and navy. 

MH should have went all out when they bought the A350 back in early 2010s to replace their widebody fleet. 30-35 A350s to replace 6 A380s, 15 A330-300s and 6 A330-200s. As for B737NG, they could have pick up some used airframes from the post-pandemic market to supplement the current fleet and max delivery delay since there are many airlines released them during the pandemic.

Edited June 25 by JuliusWong

[Riza 0]

Passenger connectivity between BKI & SDK/TWU on MH/FY is very limited to early morning & late of the day, almost 'killing' the options of getting back to peninsular via BKI. The only good multiple connection from BKI is to LDU with up to 4 daily flights. 

[Robert 0]

12 hours ago, JuliusWong said:

Yes, what you stated is true. MH was too optimistic that Boeing is able to deliver their max on schedule. However, it doesn't take an Einstein to know Boeing is not able to do so since 2019 max grounding. Fast forward to 2024, Boeing is hit with issues left, right and center for both their narrowbody and widebody program. MH's newest 737max MVC is a lemon aircraft with many issues, the max delivery for 2024 was supposed to be eight units, now it is scaled down to three/ four. Quite a big capacity shortfall. To worsen the issue, the Finance dept is reluctant to open their purse to pay for leased aircraft, prefer to go around bargaining-begging lessors for discounted rate. So malu~~~  While they are begging, all those available frames are quickly snapped up by others. And now they are flirting with SZB jet operation with FY, when their PEN and BKI hub operation are barely make it to maturity. 0.0

MH like government, only buy enough assets to carry out of operation, without any additional units as back up/ spare. So when one is down for maintenance or crashed for some reasons, the whole operation is screwed. This is what is happening to our air force, and navy. 

MH should have went all out when they bought the A350 back in early 2010s to replace their widebody fleet. 30-35 A350s to replace 6 A380s, 15 A330-300s and 6 A330-200s. As for B737NG, they could have pick up some used airframes from the post-pandemic market to supplement the current fleet and max delivery delay since there are many airlines released them during the pandemic.

I didn't realise MVC has issues

[flee 5]

On 6/24/2024 at 9:23 PM, JuliusWong said:

They don't have enough aircraft at the first place, don't know whose great idea to do NRT and TPE.  Second MH management keeps fidgeting around their strategy with FY, one moment ini, esok itu...how la??! Third, few of their pilots resigned and heading to Middle East, BKI hub operation crumbled. 

MAG really need a good and competent management! Captain Izham is not going to be here any longer in few months, I fear for worst.

I think FY should be run like a proper airline and not as an ugly stepsister to MH. Look at what SQ and TR's relationship is - TR does not need to take cast out aircraft from SQ! They even got to order E2s for their operations. If FY is not run according to its own corporate vision and mission, it will forever go directionless and become a recycle bin for MH.

[Robert 0]

NS24

Written By Jim Liu

Published at 0200GMT 08JUL24

Firefly from 20JUL24 schedules additional service from Tawau, with the launch of Tawau – Macau route. The airline's Boeing 737-800 aircraft will operate this route 4 times weekly.

FY3978 TWU1045 – 1410MFM 738 x135
FY3979 MFM1510 – 1835TWU 738 x135

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240708-fyjul24twumfm

[Adam Lawrence 0]

Firefly Schedules Chongqing Charters From July 2024

Firefly later this month is launching scheduled charter service to Chongqing, with flights offered from both Kuala Lumpur and Penang, on board Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Kuala Lumpur – Chongqing eff 20JUL24 3 weekly 737-800
FY3850 KUL2130 – 0200+1CKG 738 246
FY3851 CKG0300 – 0730KUL 738 357

Penang – Chongqing eff 22JUL24 737-800 operates every 4-5 days
FY3846 PEN2135 – 0200+CKG 738
FY3847 CKG0300 – 0715PEN 738

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240710-fyjul24ckg

[Robert 0]

2 hours ago, Adam Lawrence said:

Firefly Schedules Chongqing Charters From July 2024

Firefly later this month is launching scheduled charter service to Chongqing, with flights offered from both Kuala Lumpur and Penang, on board Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Kuala Lumpur – Chongqing eff 20JUL24 3 weekly 737-800
FY3850 KUL2130 – 0200+1CKG 738 246
FY3851 CKG0300 – 0730KUL 738 357

Penang – Chongqing eff 22JUL24 737-800 operates every 4-5 days
FY3846 PEN2135 – 0200+CKG 738
FY3847 CKG0300 – 0715PEN 738

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240710-fyjul24ckg

They struggle to operate a scheduled service so Im wondering how they are able to manage these?

[Craig 0]

Is Firefly trying to be a full time charter? If they aren't getting new planes and they have pretty much maxed out their fleet, how do they fly to these far away destinations? I am curious if more routes are on the chopping block besides those in Borneo. 

[Robert 0]

KUALA LUMPUR (July 10): Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd (MAG) has decided to deploy its low-cost arm FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd’s (Firefly) narrow-body jets -- the Boeing 737-800s -- to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Selangor (Subang Airport) when jet operations resume after 26 years.

 

In May, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook was reported as saying that he expects jet operations to resume at Subang Airport in the third quarter of 2024.

 

MAG does not expect the jet operations to have any impact on Firefly’s existing ATR72 turboprop operations as it will continue its current planned ATR72 schedules.

“It is expected that Firefly’s jet operations will complement the ATR72 network due to the different capabilities of the 737 aircraft,” the group said in an email response to questions from The Edge on Wednesday. Apart from Firefly, MAG’s other subsidiaries include Malaysia Airlines Bhd and MASwings Sdn Bhd.

 

On the jet's flight schedule and destinations, MAG said: “We will advise this in the very near future as we finalise our operational readiness and ensure the readiness of Subang Airport’s infrastructure to handle jet operations.”

 

MAG, AirAsia, Batik Air, SKS Airways Sdn Bhd and Singapore’s budget carrier Scoot Pte Ltd, which recently took delivery of its Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, have expressed their interest in operating jets from Subang Airport. However, it is understood that the number of slots allocated to each airline by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd to operate jets at the airport will be limited.

 

“MAG is committed to achieving financial sustainability and aims to continue the strong financial performance we have recorded thus far. We continue to rigorously assess all aspects of our operations including the new Firefly jet operations in Subang and will adjust our plan accordingly if needed,” said MAG.

 

Since 1998, Subang Airport has been limited to handling only propeller-driven aircraft to avoid cannibalising the traffic at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and to make KLIA a strong aviation hub in the region. But in February 2023, the government gave the go-ahead for the return of scheduled jet passenger and cargo flights under the revised Subang Airport Regeneration Plan.

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

15 hours ago, Robert said:

They struggle to operate a scheduled service so Im wondering how they are able to manage these?

Looking at the schedule I think perhaps these red eye flights are for a better aircraft utilisation ?

[JuliusWong 0]

I think Firefly or MAG as whole is being caught off guard, same as AirAsia and Batik Air Malaysia, by the gomen sudden announcement to revive SZB to allow jet service at the same time they are jostling for a piece of China tourism pie. There are just so many cities you can fly to in China, except Urumqi and Lhasa. Unlike AirAsia and Batik Air which have many spare aircraft lying around or they can shuffle aircraft among their sister companies, MAG is caught between a rock and a hard place.

All three airlines are reluctant to induct a new fleet type, especially regional jet for SZB operation. It will increase operation cost especially manpower and training. Very short lead time, and all thee want to have first mover advantage. I am not sure how wide SZB apron is, it sure look very tight, not sure if how fast or how many B737/A320 they can turnaround. Baggage handling would be a nightmare....... 

[flee 5]

1 hour ago, JuliusWong said:

All three airlines are reluctant to induct a new fleet type, especially regional jet for SZB operation. It will increase operation cost especially manpower and training. Very short lead time, and all thee want to have first mover advantage. I am not sure how wide SZB apron is, it sure look very tight, not sure if how fast or how many B737/A320 they can turnaround. Baggage handling would be a nightmare....... 

How many parking bays are available initially? Last I read was 2 - if that is the case, we may have a maximum of 1 - 1.5 turnarounds per hour per bay. I am assuming they are using basic aircraft handling equipment. So we may only have 20 -40 slots are day (assuming a 15-18 hour day). If three airlines operate jets at the airport, I am not sure if the cost of operations is going to be sustainable unless all airlines use the same ground handling company.

[BC Tam 2]

25 minutes ago, flee said:

How many parking bays are available initially? Last I read was 2 - if that is the case, ...

Says 5x narrowbodies plus 6x turboprops here 👇

https://www.nst.com.my/business/corporate/2024/07/1074960/subang-airport-jet-operations-start-august-five-airlines-bttv#google_vignette

[Robert 0]

2 hours ago, flee said:

How many parking bays are available initially? Last I read was 2 - if that is the case, we may have a maximum of 1 - 1.5 turnarounds per hour per bay. I am assuming they are using basic aircraft handling equipment. So we may only have 20 -40 slots are day (assuming a 15-18 hour day). If three airlines operate jets at the airport, I am not sure if the cost of operations is going to be sustainable unless all airlines use the same ground handling company.

the picture on the Subang thread shows 6x narrow body and 5 turbo props so its about right. 

[JuliusWong 0]

I was looking for the project details on Subang Airport rejuvenation, unfortunately I could not find any. In any case, I remain skeptical MAHB can pull it off. I will be glad to be proven wrong. They have yet to widen the Jalan Lapangan Terbang, the main road leading to the airport. There is no alternative road to the airport as well if you are coming from Puchong, Subang and PJ side, unless you wan to spend more time going around the airport via NKVE. God forbid if there is an overturned lorry (which happened before) or flood since the drainage system there sucks. A lot of pax missed their flight due to both incidents. 0.o

Confirmed airline: AirAsia Malaysia, Firefly, Batik Air Malaysia

Rumoured: Scoot, Lion Air Indonesia?, Citilink?, Batik Air Indonesia?

Dug back this image shared by @jahur last March. Affirmative= parking bays six for narrowbody, five for turboprops.

[Robert 0]

2 hours ago, JuliusWong said:

I was looking for the project details on Subang Airport rejuvenation, unfortunately I could not find any. In any case, I remain skeptical MAHB can pull it off. I will be glad to be proven wrong. They have yet to widen the Jalan Lapangan Terbang, the main road leading to the airport. There is no alternative road to the airport as well if you are coming from Puchong, Subang and PJ side, unless you wan to spend more time going around the airport via NKVE. God forbid if there is an overturned lorry (which happened before) or flood since the drainage system there sucks. A lot of pax missed their flight due to both incidents. 0.o

Confirmed airline: AirAsia Malaysia, Firefly, Batik Air Malaysia

Rumoured: Scoot, Lion Air Indonesia?, Citilink?, Batik Air Indonesia?

Dug back this image shared by @jahur last March. Affirmative= parking bays six for narrowbody, five for turboprops.

 

I used SZB a few times last month ago and on the right ride the pic some works were taking place in the apron area. I couldn't clearly see what was happening on the far left of the pic but it didn't look like much if any work was taking place. Later that night I returned from KBR and there were lot of contractors getting ready for a night shift in the terminal area. Pic was taken on 12 June 

[KK Lee 5]

19 hours ago, Robert said:

KUALA LUMPUR (July 10): Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd (MAG) has decided to deploy its low-cost arm FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd’s (Firefly) narrow-body jets -- the Boeing 737-800s -- to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Selangor (Subang Airport) when jet operations resume after 26 years.

 

In May, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook was reported as saying that he expects jet operations to resume at Subang Airport in the third quarter of 2024.

 

MAG does not expect the jet operations to have any impact on Firefly’s existing ATR72 turboprop operations as it will continue its current planned ATR72 schedules.

“It is expected that Firefly’s jet operations will complement the ATR72 network due to the different capabilities of the 737 aircraft,” the group said in an email response to questions from The Edge on Wednesday. Apart from Firefly, MAG’s other subsidiaries include Malaysia Airlines Bhd and MASwings Sdn Bhd.

 

On the jet's flight schedule and destinations, MAG said: “We will advise this in the very near future as we finalise our operational readiness and ensure the readiness of Subang Airport’s infrastructure to handle jet operations.”

 

MAG, AirAsia, Batik Air, SKS Airways Sdn Bhd and Singapore’s budget carrier Scoot Pte Ltd, which recently took delivery of its Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, have expressed their interest in operating jets from Subang Airport. However, it is understood that the number of slots allocated to each airline by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd to operate jets at the airport will be limited.

 

“MAG is committed to achieving financial sustainability and aims to continue the strong financial performance we have recorded thus far. We continue to rigorously assess all aspects of our operations including the new Firefly jet operations in Subang and will adjust our plan accordingly if needed,” said MAG.

 

Since 1998, Subang Airport has been limited to handling only propeller-driven aircraft to avoid cannibalising the traffic at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and to make KLIA a strong aviation hub in the region. But in February 2023, the government gave the go-ahead for the return of scheduled jet passenger and cargo flights under the revised Subang Airport Regeneration Plan.

With almost non connection/transit at SZB; MH, OD and AK should be looking at regional jets to optimize yield. operating A320 or 738 from SZB would be at best breakeven and more likely losing $. LCY has a bigger market, beside aircraft restriction, most operate regional jets.

 Introducing additional aircraft may incur additional training, type rating, etc but if the business unit is profitable is way better than operating losses. BA, AF, LH, KL, etc operate many aircraft types for reasons.

MAS has been advocating few aircraft type to minimize training, type rating, etc and ignoring yield optimization, is placing the cart in front of horses. MAS failure and record speak of itself.

 

10 hours ago, JuliusWong said:

I think Firefly or MAG as whole is being caught off guard, same as AirAsia and Batik Air Malaysia, by the gomen sudden announcement to revive SZB to allow jet service at the same time they are jostling for a piece of China tourism pie. There are just so many cities you can fly to in China, except Urumqi and Lhasa. Unlike AirAsia and Batik Air which have many spare aircraft lying around or they can shuffle aircraft among their sister companies, MAG is caught between a rock and a hard place.

All three airlines are reluctant to induct a new fleet type, especially regional jet for SZB operation. It will increase operation cost especially manpower and training. Very short lead time, and all thee want to have first mover advantage. I am not sure how wide SZB apron is, it sure look very tight, not sure if how fast or how many B737/A320 they can turnaround. Baggage handling would be a nightmare....... 

Previous gomen banned pax jet operation at SZB to protect KUL. Like NEP, protection drag market growth and it is wise to let market forces to decide. LCY is popular among business travelers but has little impact on LHR. KUL is badly managed, no matter how much protection is given will remain badly manage.

Edited July 11 by KK Lee

[flee 5]

1 hour ago, KK Lee said:

With almost non connection/transit at SZB; MH, OD and AK should be looking at regional jets to optimize yield. operating A320 or 738 from SZB would be at best breakeven and more likely losing $. LCY has a bigger market, beside aircraft restriction, most operate regional jets.

 Introducing additional aircraft may incur additional training, type rating, etc but if the business unit is profitable is way better than operating losses. BA, AF, LH, KL, etc operate many aircraft types for reasons.

MAS has been advocating few aircraft type to minimize training, type rating, etc and ignoring yield optimization, is placing the cart in front of horses. MAS failure and record speak of itself.

I believe airlines operating flights into LCY have little choice due to the very short runway there. Even the A319 needed special certification for steep approach to the airport. SZB has a 12,000 ft runway. So they can even operate widebodies there. The only bottleneck is the terminal.

[Robert 0]

6 minutes ago, flee said:

I believe airlines operating flights into LCY have little choice due to the very short runway there. Even the A319 needed special certification for steep approach to the airport. SZB has a 12,000 ft runway. So they can even operate widebodies there. The only bottleneck is the terminal.

you are correct, I believe the LCY approach has been reduced from 7.5 to 5.5 degrees. SZB has none of those issues. 

[JuliusWong 0]

I do not think any of these airlines will take their sweet time to look for regional jet and start operation once they are certified by CAAM for operation. None of them has any A220 or Embraer E2 in their fleet. For E2, they may ask Scoot for help with operation parameters and data. CAAM may copy whatever approval parameters by asking CAAS in Singapore for reference, but not for A220. There are not many E2 lying around either and there is no ACMI operators now with either one of these two regional jets. The nearest Embraer training centre is in SIN, and I believe they are fully occupied now for Scoot to train their own staff now. The nearest A220 would be either in Europe or in Canada. That will really cost a bomb to send crew over there.

BA, AF, LH and KL can afford different fleet type because they have a huge fleet more than 500-600 aircraft in their fleet, definitely can afford to have many fleet types. All these European giants also have huge MRO arms to provide engineering support for their own aircraft as well as for their clients. This is something that our big three are lack of.

While some may say operating a huge narrowbody like B737/A320 may be costly for them, let's not forget, SZB will command premium ticket price as its main selling point is closer to KL Downtown and located near to many residential areas/ suburbs. They don't actually need to fill their flight fully to breakeven. 

MAHB ran KLIA well until 2014 when their then-MD Ahmad Bashir retired for good. There was not proper succession plan in place. In the space of ten years, KLIA suffered a series of mismanagement, they neglected KLIA Terminal 1 when too much focus was given to KLIA2/ Terminal 2. Everyone was busy fire fighting endless issues with that damned airport. Tony has his own personal interests to run the airport his way, MAHB has their own way of running the airports. Everyone has their own ego.

Take for example the aerotrain. KLIA opened in 1998, the first replacement should have been done in 2004, then 2010, then 2016, then 2022. Every six to eight years. We should be in its fifth incarnation, but in reality we are only in its first change! What the fish........