MAS pilots accept new wage deal

[Isaac 0]

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) pilots yesterday agreed to accept the 25 per cent pay hike offered by the national carrier, without any loss in existing benefits.

 

 

The decision was made following a six-hour extraordinary general meeting of the MAS Pilots Association (MAPA) at a hotel here, on conclusion of the month-long secret ballot carried out among the 1,200 pilots on whether to accept the company’s latest offer.

 

The pilots had, in a similar meeting on April 14, rejected the company’s offer of a 25 per cent salary increase as it came with several conditions, including downgrading the existing once-yearly flight that Captains are allowed on First Class with their family, meal allowances and hotel stay (for long-haul destinations) from five-star to four-star hotels.

 

“This time around, almost 90 per cent of them voted in favour of the deal. We believe most of them voted out of frustration, given the company’s financial situation,’’ a source told The Malay Mail.

 

It is learnt that the new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MAPA and MAS is likely to be inked by the end of this month.

 

This, however, does not mean that the exodus of pilots would be stemmed, said the sources.

 

“The pilots will take the money first and see what happens over the next few months when a new managing director is appointed. If there are no changes in the way the flight crew is managed, more pilots will leave,” the source said.

 

Interestingly, airlines in the Middle-East are said to be closely following the negotiations between MAPA and MAS, as MAS pilots are said to be in demand because of their experience and reputation of being among the best.

 

“The Middle-East airlines are offering an additional 20 per cent to the salaries they are now paying. The competition there is stiff as there are a lot of new airlines coming up in the Middle-East and even India,” the source said.

 

It is learnt that the Middle-East airlines will begin a massive recruitment exercise from October when they start expanding their fleet.

 

More senior MAS pilots are expected to leave when this happens.

 

“Even with the 25 per cent pay hike offered by MAS, the offer from the other airlines is more attractive,” a source said.

 

MAS has been steadily losing many of its senior pilots, especially to Middle-East airlines which offer up to three times their salary, excluding other perks like housing and free education for their children.

 

Since January this year, MAS has lost more than 40 pilots. Last year, it lost 68 pilots.

 

The shortage resulted in delays and cancellations of many MAS flights in recent months as the remaining pilots hit their maximum flying hours allowed under the Flight Time Limitation.

 

 

 

To overcome the shortage, MAS began recruiting pilots from neighbouring countries.