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JuliusWong

Firefly freezes capacity growth as demand slows

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Firefly (FY, Penang) has deferred deliveries of up to two ATR72-600s due this year as part of its cost-cutting and operational consolidation programme.
Airline chief executive Ignatius Ong told the Malaysian Review magazine this week that talks with Avions de Transport Régional (Toulouse Blagnac) about the deferral have already taken place with the deliveries of "one or two" aircraft, due this year, to be affected. Of its order for twenty ATR72-600s, Firefly has added just one to its fleet this year in the form of 9M-FIH (cn 1285) which arrived in April.
According to the ch-aviation fleets database, Firefly's fleet currently stands at eight ATR72-600s and twelve ATR72-500s.
“We will not be taking new aircraft this year, as we are on a consolidation mode," he said adding that the regional operator is also reviewing its route network which currently covers fifteen cities across Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand.
"This is the time to readjust the frequencies and drop unsustainable routes, such as the Kota Bharu-Langkawi flight.”
Firefly has been adversely affected by a decline in local demand which, Ong said, has been brought on by a weaker Ringgit as well as the consumer's more conservative approach to spending.

 

Source

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And now firefly is codesharing with all MH destinations (except TPE)

 

Malaysian carrier Firefly on Thursday (18AUG16) has launched codeshare partnership with parent Malaysia Airlines, as FY code is being placed on nearly all Malaysia Airlines mainline service, domestic and international.

 

Currently based on GDS schedule listing, FY code is appearing on 58 routes operated by Malaysia Airlines, listed below. International routes marked with * represents reservation is available on fireflys website, and not require onward connection to/from another firefly operating flights.

 

 

firefly operated by Malaysia Airlines

Kota Kinabalu Kuching

Kota Kinabalu Perth

Kota Kinabalu Sandakan

Kota Kinabalu Shanghai Pu Dong

Kota Kinabalu Tawau

Kota Kinabalu Tokyo Narita

Kuala Lumpur Adelaide

Kuala Lumpur Alor Setar

Kuala Lumpur Auckland *

Kuala Lumpur Bandar Seri Begawan *

Kuala Lumpur Bangalore

Kuala Lumpur Bangkok *

Kuala Lumpur Beijing

Kuala Lumpur Bintulu

Kuala Lumpur Chennai

Kuala Lumpur Colombo

Kuala Lumpur Darwin

Kuala Lumpur Delhi

Kuala Lumpur Denpasar *

Kuala Lumpur Dhaka

Kuala Lumpur Guangzhou

Kuala Lumpur Hanoi *

Kuala Lumpur Ho Chi Minh City *

Kuala Lumpur Hong Kong *

Kuala Lumpur Hyderabad

Kuala Lumpur Jakarta *

Kuala Lumpur Jeddah

Kuala Lumpur Johor Bahru

Kuala Lumpur Kathmandu

Kuala Lumpur Kota Bharu

Kuala Lumpur Kota Kinabalu

Kuala Lumpur Kuala Terengganu

Kuala Lumpur Kuantan

Kuala Lumpur Kuching

Kuala Lumpur Labuan

Kuala Lumpur Langkawi

Kuala Lumpur London Heathrow *

Kuala Lumpur Manila *

Kuala Lumpur Medan Kuala Namu *

Kuala Lumpur Melbourne

Kuala Lumpur Miri

Kuala Lumpur Mumbai

Kuala Lumpur Osaka Kansai

Kuala Lumpur Penang

Kuala Lumpur Perth

Kuala Lumpur Phnom Penh

Kuala Lumpur Phuket

Kuala Lumpur Sandakan

Kuala Lumpur Seoul Incheon

Kuala Lumpur Shanghai Pu Dong

Kuala Lumpur Sibu

Kuala Lumpur Siem Reap

Kuala Lumpur Singapore *

Kuala Lumpur Sydney

Kuala Lumpur Tawau

Kuala Lumpur Tokyo Narita

Kuala Lumpur Xiamen

Kuala Lumpur Yangon

 

Malaysia Airlines operates at KLIA in Kuala Lumpur. The only international service not carrying FY code is Taipei (from both KLIA and Kota Kinabalu).

 

http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/268491/firefly-launches-codeshare-service-with-malaysia-airlines-from-aug-2016/

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What is the underlying reason to have FY codeshares on almost all these flights? If tactical, what?

Are these the first steps to Firefly jet v2.0?

 

When that start operations, their flights may also be carrying MH codes.

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Does anyone know how is FY doing in KUA? They have cancelled their SZB -KUA-SZB route and so has OD. KUA is relatively near to KUL, how would it be if there were ATR operated flights between KUL and KUA?

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Does anyone know how is FY doing in KUA? They have cancelled their SZB -KUA-SZB route and so has OD. KUA is relatively near to KUL, how would it be if there were ATR operated flights between KUL and KUA?

 

KUL-KUA is only feasible if meant to connect to onward journey from KUL.

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AK tried KUL-KUA. I was on the inaugural. No fanfare...I guess they didn't think it would last long. And it didn't.

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Twice I was the only pax on an FY flight. Even had kerbside meet-and-greet as they were early and ready to go - just waiting for me.

 

Another time, I was one of two pax on a CX 773. It was deserted as days earlier pilots had gone on strike and many CX flights were cancelled. This was one of the first to leave the base. Felt like a ghost flight with so many rows of empty seats.

 

And there are other anecdotes of almost empty flights during the SARS period years ago.

 

Anyway, much ado about nothing really. The outbound PEN-KBV flight probably had many more than two pax and the plane had to return to base anyway. Must be a slow news day.

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Hearsay; FY has returned six of ATR-72 to lessor under notice.

Saw a post today at facebook. Today, FY removed its final ATR72-600 from service. All eight ATR72-600 (9M-FIA till 9M-FIH) were withdrawn, MASWings removed all theirs (9M-MYA till 9M-MYD) back in Feb 2016. MYD went to FY for a period of time and was withdrawn too.

Edited by JuliusWong

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Any reasons why the 600 series are returned? I thought they are newer planes?

ATR 72-600 operation cost is much higher than ATR 72-500, the overall benefit gained by operating 600 vs 500 is negligible, except -600 can fly higher, but -500 can fly further.

 

This is a good link to do comparison between both: http://planes.axlegeeks.com/compare/124-846/ATR-72-500-vs-ATR-72-600

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So with hindsight now, why the unholy haste to order the -600s as replacements so soon after the -500s entered service ?

Lack of foresight ? At the very least of due diligence ?

Considering how long the F27s soldiered on before being relieved by the F50s, and that in turn was worked to exhaustion prior to arrival of the ATR72-500s, a few eyebrows would have been raised I suspect

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So with hindsight now, why the unholy haste to order the -600s as replacements so soon after the -500s entered service ?

Lack of foresight ? At the very least of due diligence ?

Considering how long the F27s soldiered on before being relieved by the F50s, and that in turn was worked to exhaustion prior to arrival of the ATR72-500s, a few eyebrows would have been raised I suspect

True, they did't evaluate the metrics thoroughly to say at least. It has larger overhead bins, glass cockpit and more comfortable seating that's all. But the performance metric isn't very much different with -500. The ATR 72-600 order was placed during Ahmad Jauhari's tenure and was used to replace the "ageing" ATR 72-500 and for further expansion in both FY and MASwings. Finance through special purpose vehicles...whatever that means.

 

Read more here: http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2012/12/19/mas-buying-36-atr-turboprop-aircraft-worth-rm3bil-for-firefly-and-maswings/

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So with hindsight now, why the unholy haste to order the -600s as replacements so soon after the -500s entered service ?

Lack of foresight ? At the very least of due diligence ?

Considering how long the F27s soldiered on before being relieved by the F50s, and that in turn was worked to exhaustion prior to arrival of the ATR72-500s, a few eyebrows would have been raised I suspect

Firefly did not expect Malindo to enter aggressively and drop fares sky high. Malindo is also not doing well in its ATR services as there are plans to spinoff part of the operation elsewhere is also in the table. The ATR72-600 also has parts issues which can only be at the moment, sourced from ATR itself which causes significant delay in an event an aircraft has gone tech and in need of parts replacement. Cost for parts are also much higher than the 500 series.

 

Maswings received the 600 series as the glass cockpit and increased capability allows Maswings to fly into Sabah Sarawak terrain+weather infested airports during the night efficiently. Cost and sustainable passenger load factor was not on their side though. Backlash from state gov also as the fleet type was not approved for subsidization as contract was only for the 10 atr72-500.

 

Another note, the atr is not a very good aircraft when compared to fokker 50, While It has the best fuel burn and operating cost, performance wise it sucks over the pricey Q400. The ATR's Non sturdy landing gear that is attached to the fuselage has made it a not so nice aircraft to experience during landing and is common for the aircraft to sink on either left or right throughout the landing roll if either of the gear touches first with some crosswinds. Plane also not good at Bad weather penetration compared to fokker 50 as noted from past pilots who operate the aircraft. The main Landing gear door always detached itself while its slow to get parts to get it fixed, aircrafts with this missing landing gear door have to fly below the usual cruise speed significantly to prevent vibration. Aircraft's engine is also very underpowered to perform a quick go-arounds as it is the same engine from the ATR42.

Edited by jahur

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Firefly did not expect Malindo to enter aggressively and drop fares sky high. Malindo is also not doing well in its ATR services as there are plans to spinoff part of the operation elsewhere is also in the table. The ATR72-600 also has parts issues which can only be at the moment, sourced from ATR itself which causes significant delay in an event an aircraft has gone tech and in need of parts replacement. Cost for parts are also much higher than the 500 series.

 

Maswings received the 600 series as the glass cockpit and increased capability allows Maswings to fly into Sabah Sarawak terrain+weather infested airports during the night efficiently. Cost and sustainable passenger load factor was not on their side though. Backlash from state gov also as the fleet type was not approved for subsidization as contract was only for the 10 atr72-500.

 

Another note, the atr is not a very good aircraft when compared to fokker 50, While It has the best fuel burn and operating cost, performance wise it sucks over the pricey Q400. The ATR's Non sturdy landing gear that is attached to the fuselage has made it a not so nice aircraft to experience during landing and is common for the aircraft to sink on either left or right throughout the landing roll if either of the gear touches first with some crosswinds. Plane also not good at Bad weather penetration compared to fokker 50 as noted from past pilots who operate the aircraft. The main Landing gear door always detached itself while its slow to get parts to get it fixed, aircrafts with this missing landing gear door have to fly below the usual cruise speed significantly to prevent vibration. Aircraft's engine is also very underpowered to perform a quick go-arounds as it is the same engine from the ATR42.

 

Did 600 series inherited the above issue from 500 series?

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Did 600 series inherited the above issue from 500 series?

Yes most of it. The missing landing gear door is the most famous just head out to szb and see those with doors missing on both malindo and firefly. Some of the ex defunct maswings atr72-600 had their door transferred to fy Edited by jahur

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