Naim 6 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 (edited) Official at last. +++ March 14, 2007 15:33 PM MAS Will Launch A New Airline, "Firefly" KUALA LUMPUR, March 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) will launch a new airline, to be known as "Firefly," which will begin operation in early April, it said today. For a start, Firefly will operate with two Fokker F50 aircraft and fly twice daily services out of Penang International Airport to Kota Bahru, Langkawi, Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu, plus daily services to Phuket and Koh Samui in southern Thailand. In a circular to Bursa Malaysia, MAS said Firefly will be run by wholly owned subsidiary Flyfirefly Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Kelas Services Sdn Bhd), which has been issued the Air Services Licence and Air Operator's Certificate by the Civil Aviation Department. Firefly will be managed by a separate management team, it added. -- BERNAMA Addition (from BT): FlyFirefly has been issued the Air Services Licence and Air Operator’s Certificate by the Civil Aviation Department effective March 17 2007. Edited March 14, 2007 by Naim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naim 6 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 MORE NEWS ... +++ MAS To Launch A New Airline, "Firefly" PUTRAJAYA, March 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) will launch a new airline, Firefly, which will begin operation in early April, its managing director and chief executive officer Idris Jala said today. For a start, Firefly will operate with two Fokker F50 aircraft and provide twice daily services out of Penang International Airport to Kota Bahru, Langkawi, Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu, plus daily services to Phuket and Koh Samui in southern Thailand with one-way ticket price starting from RM9, he said. These routes are currently not served by MAS or other airlines, he told a press conference at the Transport Ministry here. Firefly's routes will complement MAS' network connectivity and broaden its reach. The venture is also expected to boost MAS' revenue and targets, he added. Asked whether it is a low cost carrier, Jala said: "We would like to call it a community airline with a low cost base. It will be a profitable venture." He expects Firely to break even in its first year of operation and start making a profit from next year. And there is no subsidy from the government, he said. On suggestions that there are already a number of low cost airlines in the region, Jala said: "If you look at what is happening in Europe and the US (aviation markets) you will see there is still room for new entrants in Asia." On investment in Firefly, he would only say: "It is a small amount of money." In a circular to Bursa Malaysia earlier, MAS said Firefly will be run by wholly owned subsidiary Flyfirefly Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Kelas Services Sdn Bhd), which has been issued the Air Services Licence and Air Operator's Certificate by the Civil Aviation Department effective this Saturday. Firefly will be managed by a separate management team. Jala, who declined to reveal much of the details, said there will be a separate managing director for Firefly and some MAS staff will be seconded for a start, but eventually the new company will recruit its own staff. -- BERNAMA Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Teoh Z Yao 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 (edited) Yay... Penang based! RM9! Edited March 14, 2007 by Teoh Z Yao Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mushrif A 3 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 De ja vu ....Pelangi air. So, what has changed with Firefly that wasn't there with Pelangiair, to make it work? Fully-depreciated aircraft? So, Asmara Air is buried for good? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mushrif A 3 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 Also, website is flyfirefly.com....currently just an image of ....you guessed it, fireflies! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naim 6 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 Also, website is flyfirefly.com....currently just an image of ....you guessed it, fireflies! Can try another possibility: www.firefly.com.my +++ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seng Lim 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 It seems they are targeting at the short haul tourist destinations which is good. Finally we have the opportunities to try out F50 in Peninsular Malaysia at affordable price. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Min Chun 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 If not mistaken, one of MWingers here had guessed it right about the name some times ago right Wow..Starting from9 ..and Langkawi! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yusoff 1 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 If not mistaken, one of MWingers here had guessed it right about the name some times ago right Wow..Starting from9 ..and Langkawi! Yup... are we talking about royalty now..? eheheheee...... who would have thought... firefly is now coined as the new airline name... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sri Ramani K. 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 wonder if they're going to have their own liveries on the aircrafts.. should be good, i suppose..and RM9 is a bargain not to be missed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naim 6 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 MORE DETAILS ... +++ The Edge Daily 14-03-2007: MAS to launch Firefly (Updated) By Jimmy Yeow & Isabelle Francis Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) is launching a no-frills low cost carrier next month to be branded as "Firefly", with fares starting from as low as RM9. The new service will use Penang as its operations base and hub, initially serving mainly destinations in northern Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand. Firefly will link Penang to Phuket and Koh Samui seven times a week as well as Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Baru and Langkawi 14 times weekly. The airline will be operated by MAS' unit FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd, formerly Kelas Services Sdn Bhd. MAS managing director Idris Jala described the new carrier, which will initially operate two Fokker 50 that seats 50 passengers each, as a "community airline with a low cost structure." “We felt we would not be able to do this with MAS with its current business model. "Firefly is a profitable venture and win-win for the government and community serving routes not served by MAS,†he told reporters after Transport Minister Datuk Chan Kong Choy announced the impending launch of the new carrier in Putrajaya on March 14. Chan also presented the Air Services Licence and Air Operator's Certificate issued by the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia to Idris. Idris said the budget carrier would not cannibalise MAS’ current services as they served two different markets. “We are able to segregate the two markets,†Idris added. He dismissed suggestions that the budget airline scene in the region was crowded saying that there was still room for new players. Idris added that Firefly would be able to increase MAS' connectivity and play a complementary role to its parent company. Asked how soon the budget airline would be able to make money, he said: “We expect between now and one year, it would be on a break even keel and the following year we should be able to make money. There is no subsidy from the government.†Idris said he would not be distracted from his current task of turning around MAS, as a new managing director would be appointed to manage Firefly. He said for a start, some staff from MAS would be seconded to the new outfit but Firefly would later have its own staff and a different structure. “It is important that we develop this new model differently and we may even introduce some of the experience in operating the new budget airline into MAS later,†he added. Idris said more details would be announced at a launch event in Penang on March 17. He said the idea of the new airline came about during MAS' discussions with the government on improving the tourism sector in Malaysia. Chan said the new service was expected to enhance Malaysia’s air services. “Apart from the Penang-Langkawi route, the other routes given to Firefly are not served by any other carriers at the moment,†he said. “I hope that in the long term, the new service will be able to contribute to the growth of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMG-GT),†he added. Meanwhile, analysts believe the new service would help the national carrier's profitability due to its low capitalisation and fast aircraft turnaround model. MIMB research analyst Pong Teng Siew said: “The average utilisation is five times daily per aircraft. That is even higher than AirAsia’s, which is four times daily. “Firefly’s model has a fast aircraft turnaround. Average load factor would likely be above 70%. Firefly could even offer full-services using a low cost structure (versus less-frills services offered by budget airlines),†he added. Additionally, Pong said Firefly could leverage on shared ground services and equipment with MAS. “If it goes well, Firefly can make money and could even break even in its first year.†However Pong said in the foreseeable future, with Fokker 50 planes, Firefly could only extend its services and fly to limited destinations, naming Medan as a possible destination. On the rivalry between budget carrier AirAsia Bhd and Firefly, analysts said competition would be “marginal†as AirAsia currently flew to only six destinations from Penang. The six destinations are Bangkok, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Medan, while FireFly will fly to Kota Bahru, Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu and Langkawi as well as Phuket and Koh Samui. “Most of AirAsia flights are from Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. “If perhaps Penang is going to be AirAsia’s fourth hub, it would still be small. Also with Fokker 50, MAS cannot fly to the destinations (that AirAsia is flying to now),†said an analyst. http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.js...ce0000-510b81e6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seth K 3 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 Wonder how they get their name, I bet when they were browsing Firefox... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 Wonder how they get their name, I bet when they were browsing Firefox... No matter what, I love it At least, it's much better than Fax Looking forward to an 'interesting' colourscheme Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yusoff 1 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 Waaaayyyyyy much better than Asmara Airlines (Asmara = Romance).... where's the significant in that...?? Romance airlines... yuck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Ong 1 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 Wow, that's a reasonable price, RM9 for a one way ticket Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ewan Shamsudin 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 (edited) Wonder how they get their name, I bet when they were browsing Firefox... Apparently firefly is oddly one of the tourist attractions for the district of Kuala Selangor, specifically in Kampung Kuantan. http://www.journeymalaysia.com/MR_kampungkuantan.htm Unique, this firefly creature. And a catchy name for a brand as well. Edited March 14, 2007 by ewan shamsudin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sri Ramani K. 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 i guess it wouldn't have been because of a firefly... perhaps it's a rojak of two words which brings quite a big meaning fire & fly. perhaps a blazing start from them? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Min Chun 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 Yup... are we talking about royalty now..? eheheheee...... who would have thought... firefly is now coined as the new airline name... http://www.malaysianwings.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=5002 hehe Our Captain guessed it right.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samuel Chy 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 will the main colour for the livery is Signal Red? and some additon yellow and orange colour? <_> Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessnor Arif 1 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 http://www.malaysianwings.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=5002 hehe Our Captain guessed it right.. Hmm Probably our captain already have insides info before that Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Radzi 2 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 http://www.malaysianwings.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=5002 hehe Our Captain guessed it right.. Not exactly a fair guess as I did receive inside information, but it was not confirmed then. Anyway, I'll get the picture whenever it becomes available. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Edwin P K 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 Oh I love the name, absolutely spot on! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naim 6 Report post Posted March 15, 2007 Have you guys watched the space adventure TV show - FIREFLY? +++ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
H Azmal 0 Report post Posted March 15, 2007 I got a hotlinking error message... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yusoff 1 Report post Posted March 15, 2007 Also, website is flyfirefly.com....currently just an image of ....you guessed it, fireflies! Been there.... hmm... more like a cyber-squatting to me.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
