Malaysia Airlines: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}

{{Infobox airline

| {{start date and age|1972|10|01|df=yes}}<br />{{small|(as ''Malaysian Airline System'')}}

| {{start date and age|2015|09|01|df=yes}}<br />{{small|(as ''Malaysia Airlines Berhad'')}}}}

| operating_income =

}}

 

 

Malaysia Airlines is a part of Malaysia Aviation Group, which also owns two subsidiary airlines: [[Firefly (airline)|Firefly]] and [[MASwings]]. Malaysia Airlines also owns a freighter division: [[MASkargo]].

MAS took all domestic routes within Malaysia and international routes out of that country, as well as the remaining fleet of [[Fokker F27]]'s. It began flights on 1 October 1972 with 19 aircraft and soon expanded, including introducing flights from Kuala Lumpur to London.<ref name=nst_72>{{cite news |title=Notice to All Debators|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19720922&id=Ed0qAAAAIBAJ&pg=916,3775278 |work=New Straits Times |date=22 September 1972 |via=Google news |access-date=30 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>Airlines ''[[Australian Transport]]'' November 1974 pages 14/15</ref> In that year, MAS operated flights to more than 34 regional destinations and six international services. In 1976, after receiving its [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10|DC-10-30]] aircraft, MAS scheduled flights to Europe, with initial flights from Kuala Lumpur to [[Amsterdam]], [[Paris]], and [[Frankfurt]]. The Boeing 707s were then removed from the fleet.

 

 

An economic boom in Malaysia during the 1980s spurred the growth of MAS. By the end of the decade, MAS was flying to 47 overseas destinations, including eight European destinations, seven [[Oceania]]n destinations, and [[United States|American]] destinations of [[Los Angeles]] and [[Honolulu]]. In 1993, MAS reached [[South America]] when the airline received its first [[Boeing 747-400]] aircraft. MAS became the first airline in [[Southeast Asia]] to fly to [[South America]] using its Boeing 747 via stopovers in [[South Africa]]. MAS also flew to [[Mexico City]] for a brief period from 1994 to 1998, with [[Freedoms of the air|fifth freedom rights]] to transport passengers from [[Los Angeles]] en route from [[Kuala Lumpur]] (with a stopover in [[Narita International Airport|Tokyo-Narita]].)

 

 

The late 1990s saw MAS' final widebody fleet modernization with the first Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, brand new at the time. This aircraft then became MAS' primary long-haul and medium-haul routes.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://boeing.mediaroom.com/1997-04-25-Malaysia-Airlines-Receives-First-Boeing-777| title=Malaysia Airlines Receives First Boeing 777}}</ref>

Prior to the [[Asian financial crisis]] in 1997, the airline suffered losses of as much as RM260 million after earning a record-breaking RM333 million profit in the financial year 1996/1997.<ref name="Malaysia Airlines: The Marketing Challenge After MH17 and MH370">{{citation|date=2015|title=Malaysia Airlines: The Marketing Challenge After MH17 and MH370|url=https://lumsa.it/sites/default/files/UTENTI/u1708/Malaysia%20Airlines.pdf|work=Università di Roma LUMSA|access-date=2024-01-31}}</ref> The airline then introduced measures to bring it back to profitable. For the financial year 1999/2000, the airline cut its losses from RM700 million in 1998/1999 to RM259 million.

 

 

 

In 2005, MAS suffered yet another period of unprofitability, reporting a loss of RM1.3 billion. Revenue for the financial period was up by 10.3% or RM826.9 million, compared to the same period for 2004, driven by a 10.2% growth in passenger traffic. International passenger revenue increased by RM457.6 million or 8.4%, to RM5.9 billion, while cargo revenue decreased by RM64.1 million or 4.2%, to RM1.5 billion. Costs increased by 28.8% or RM2.3 billion, amounting to a total of RM 10.3 billion, primarily due to escalating fuel prices. Other cost increases included staff costs, handling and [[landing fees]], aircraft maintenance and overhaul charges, widespread assets unbundling charges, and leases.<ref name="losses">{{cite web |url=http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/masapp/pdf/financial_info/quarterly/PressRelease_dec.pdf |title=Malaysia Airlines reports end of year losses. |publisher=Malaysia Airlines |access-date=23 March 2008}}{{dead link|date=May 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Route rationalising was also the major contributors to the airline's return to profitability. MAS pared its domestic routes from 114 to 23, and also cancelled virtually all unprofitable international routes. It has handed off its turboprop fleet to [[airasia]] which was then tasked to handle the rural air service. It also rescheduled all of its flight timings and changed its operations model from [[Point-to-point transit|point-to-point]] services to [[hub-and-spoke]] services. Additionally, the airline started Project Omega and Project Alpha to improve the company's network and revenue management. Emphasis has been placed on six areas - pricing, revenue management, network scheduling, opening storefronts, low-season strategy, and distribution management. MAS then pushed for new aircraft purchases, using its cash surplus of RM5.3 billion to eventually purchase new [[narrow-body aircraft|narrow-]] and [[wide-body aircraft]].<ref name="purchasefleet">{{cite magazine |date=25 February 2008 |title=Malaysian Airline returns to profit in 2007, exceeds financial targets |magazine=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/02/25/afx4690972.html |access-date=23 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929041904/http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/02/25/afx4690972.html |archive-date=29 September 2008}}</ref> The first of such aircraft purchases were the order of 55 Boeing 737-800 which were meant to effectively replaced the airlines ageing Boeing 737-400.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/31/business/worldbusiness/31iht-air.1.11547855.html| title=Malaysian airline orders up to 55 Boeing 737-800 aircraft| work=The New York Times| date=31 March 2008}}</ref>

 

 

Due to Idris Jala's appointment to the cabinet in August 2009, Tengku Azmil Zahruddin took over as the airline's new CEO.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tengku Datuk Azmil Zahruddin made MAS MD/CEO |work=The Star |date=28 August 2009 |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2009/08/28/tengku-datuk-azmil-zahruddin-made-mas-mdceo/ |access-date=18 March 2017}}</ref> In December that year, MAS announced the purchase of 15 new [[Airbus A330]] aircraft, with options for another 10. Expected to be delivered between 2011 and 2016, they are intended to operate on medium-haul routes to eastern Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. The airline's plans are to run the [[Airbus A380]] planes, which were then introduced into service in 2012, on long-haul routes along with the [[Boeing 777]]s, the A330s on medium-haul routes, and [[Boeing 737]] aircraft on short-haul routes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/12/22/336479/mas-orders-15-a330s.html |title=MAS orders 15 A330s |website=Flightglobal.com |date=22 December 2009 |access-date=20 July 2014}}</ref>

November 2017 saw the arrival of the [[Airbus A350]] and [[Airbus A330-200]] which were leased onto the fleet. The brand new Airbus A350s were essentially used to replace the Airbus A380 on the airline’s small long haul route network while the second hand Airbus A330-200 were deployed as interim aircraft for certain medium to long haul routes.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.malaysiaairlines.com/kr/ko/news-article/2017/welcomes-its-first-A350-XWB.html | title=Malaysia Airlines Welcomes Its First A350 XWB }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://corporatetravelcommunity.com/analysis/a330-200-could-be-a-solution-for-malaysia-airlines-auckland-quandary-582629 | title=A330-200 could be a solution for Malaysia Airlines' Auckland quandary}}</ref> With this the A380s were instead deployed to Narita and Seoul.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/56921-malaysia-airlines-to-deploy-a380s-on-seoul-tokyo-routes| title=Malaysia Airlines to deploy A380s on Seoul, Tokyo routes}}</ref>

 

 

===2020–present: COVID-19 pandemic, fourth unprofitability, catering fiasco, turnaround===

|[[Firefly (airline)|Firefly]] Sdn. Bhd.||Subsidiary||[[Airline]]||Malaysia||100%

|-

|-

|Malaysian Aerospace Engineering Sdn Bhd||Subsidiary||[[Aircraft Maintenance|Maintenance Repair and Operations (MRO)]]||Malaysia||55.39%<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/indl-goods/svs/engineering/gmr-buys-44-61-stake-in-jv-with-malaysian-firm/articleshow/45496602.cms|title=GMR buys 44.61% stake in JV with Malaysian firm|newspaper=The Economic Times |date=12 December 2014 }}</ref>

|-

|-

|Abacus Distribution Systems (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd||Subsidiary||[[Computer reservation system]]||Malaysia||80%

In 2017, the airline introduced a special paint scheme 'Negaraku' on one Boeing 737.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.malaysiaairlines.com/id/id/news-article/2017/malaysia-airlines-unveils-negaraku-livery-on-b737-800-aircraft.html|title=Malaysia Airlines unveils Negaraku livery on B737-800 aircraft|access-date=16 November 2023}}</ref> Initially a special paint scheme on few selected aircraft, it is now in the process of being integrated as the standard livery across the entire fleet.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2022/09/831853/malaysia-airlines-high-patriotism-spirit-malaysia-flag-livery|title=Malaysia Airlines high on patriotism spirit with Malaysia Flag livery|date=16 September 2022 |access-date=16 November 2023}}</ref> This livery has the Malaysian flag painted across the aft section of the aircraft's fuselage and symbolizes Malaysia's rich heritage culture and also modifies the corporate wau bulan logo on the tail section of the aircraft.

 

 

===Alliance===

{{Main|List of Malaysia Airlines destinations}}

[[File:2011-06-28 14-00-07 South Africa - Bonaero Park - 9M-MRO.jpg|thumb|Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 in [[Cape Town]], [[South Africa]]. It was the only Southeast Asian airline that served South Africa and South America until 2012. The aircraft featured here, 9M-MRO, disappeared in 2014 as [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 370|Flight 370]].]]

Malaysia Airlines also owns its own charter flight division. Malaysia Airlines' charter flights have flown to destinations around the world, such as [[Guilin]], which was previously one of Malaysia Airlines' scheduled destinations, and [[Christmas Island]]. Malaysia Airlines has also been the official airline for the Manchester United Asian Tour<ref name="MUFC">{{cite web |publisher=Unicef |title=Manchester United to raise money for UNICEF during the 2005 Asia Tour|year=2005|url=http://www.unicef.org/china/support_1953.html}}</ref> It also has a substantial Hajj operation.

{{div col|colwidth=17em}}

* [[Air Mauritius]]

* [[American Airlines]]

* [[Bangkok Airways]]

* [[Ethiopian Airlines]]

* [[Finnair]]

* [[Garuda Indonesia]]

* [[IndiGo]]<ref>{{cite web |author=TTG Asia |date=8 April 2024 |title=Malaysia Airlines, IndiGo boost connectivity with codeshare partnership

* [[Korean Air]]

* [[LATAM Chile]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=LATAM / Malaysia Airlines begins codeshare partnership from mid-Dec 2019 |work=Routesonline |date=16 December 2019 |url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/288134/latam-malaysia-airlines-begins-codeshare-partnership-from-mid-dec-2019/ |access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref>

* [[Myanmar Airways International]]

* [[Oman Air]]

 

=== Interline agreements ===

 

==Fleet==

{{Main|Malaysia Airlines fleet}}

 

 

In August 2022, Malaysia Airlines confirmed it would take delivery of an initial order of 20 [[Airbus A330neo]] aircraft, with purchase options for an additional 20, to gradually replace its A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft between Q3 2023 and 2028 for flights across Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-08-15 |title=Malaysia Airlines to acquire 20 A330neo for widebody fleet renewal |url=https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022-08-malaysia-airlines-to-acquire-20-a330neo-for-widebody-fleet-renewal |access-date=2022-08-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-08-15 |title=Malaysia Airlines upgrading Australian flights to Airbus A330neo jets |url=https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/malaysia-airlines-a330neo |access-date=2022-08-15}}</ref> The deliveries are set to be split between 10 direct purchases and 10 leases from Ireland's Avolon <ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-08-15 |title=Avolon agrees transaction for 20 A330NEO aircraft with Malaysia Aviation Group |url=http://www.avolon.aero/news/avlon-agrees-transaction-for-20-a330neo-aircraft-with-malaysia-aviation-group#:~:text=AVOLON%20AGREES%20TRANSACTION%20FOR%2020%20A330neo%20AIRCRAFT%20WITH%20MALAYSIA%20AVIATION%20GROUP&text=Dublin%20%7C%2015%20August%2C%202022%3A,of%2020%20A330%2D900neo%20aircraft. |access-date=2024-04-23}}</ref>.The airline is expected to make a decision on Q1 2024 regarding its subsequent optional for another additional 20 frames orders on the A330neo from Airbus.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nst.com.my/business/2023/11/974176/mag-expects-first-a330-900neo-arrive-september-next-year | title=MAG expects first A330-900neo to arrive in September next year | newspaper=Business Times | date=2 November 2023 }}</ref>

In 2023, following the acquisition of additional A350 into the fleet, The airline has introduced a further refined Business Class seats. Based on the Thompson Vantage XL the seats were retained from the previous operator [[Scandinavian Airlines|SAS]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/malaysia-airlines-sas-a350-melbourne|title=Why Melbourne is getting a Scandinavian Airlines A350 Malaysia Airlines brings its newest A350 to Melbourne|date=15 November 2023 }}</ref>

 

====Economy Class====

====Select 3000i====

 

 

====Select Mainscreen====

::In 2023, Malaysia Airlines has begun introducing a new system called MH Studio which is a derivative of the Select in-flight entertainment interface the airline uses. Powered by Viasat it host 500 on-demand entertainment options that would be streamed on passengers personal devices wirelessly. Currently this system will only be installed on the Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737 Max 8 fleet.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://spacewatch.global/2023/08/malaysia-airlines-selects-viasat-for-in-flight-experience/ | title=Malaysia Airlines Selects Viasat for In-Flight Experience }}</ref>

 

 

===Sponsorships===

 

===Journify===

 

==Incidents and accidents==

* 8 March 2014&nbsp;– [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 370]], a [[Boeing 777-200ER]]&nbsp;– registered ''9M-MRO''&nbsp;– carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew, went [[Search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370|missing]] on a flight from [[Kuala Lumpur International Airport]] to [[Beijing Capital International Airport]].<ref name="MASPlaneMissing">{{cite news |title=Airliner with 239 on board missing over Asia |newspaper=Malaysia Sun |url=http://www.malaysiasun.com/index.php/sid/220372196/scat/48cba686fe041718/ht/Airliner-with-239-on-board-missing-over-Asia-Pacific |access-date=8 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309094750/http://www.malaysiasun.com/index.php/sid/220372196/scat/48cba686fe041718/ht/Airliner-with-239-on-board-missing-over-Asia-Pacific |archive-date=9 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/my/en/site/dark-site.html |title=MH370 Flight Incident |publisher=Malaysia Airlines |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517161641/http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/my/en/site/dark-site.html |archive-date=17 May 2014 }}</ref> Although the whereabouts of the plane remain unknown, satellite data indicates that the plane was lost in the Southern [[Indian Ocean]] and all 239 people on board perished. On 5 August 2015 the Malaysian government confirmed a [[Flaperon|flaperon]] from a 777 found washed up on [[Réunion|Réunion Island]] belonged to Flight 370.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26716572 |title=Families told missing plane lost |date=24 March 2014 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=24 March 2014}}</ref> A piece of aircraft wreckage (an outboard flap) found on [[Pemba Island]] off the [[Tanzania]]n coast in June 2016 was also confirmed by the Malaysian Transport Ministry to belong to MH370.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-16/authorities-confirm-debris-found-in-tanzania-is-from-mh370/7850460 |title=Authorities confirm debris found in Tanzania is from MH370 |website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=15 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.com/2014/03/how-did-inmarsat-really-find-flight.html|title=Physics Buzz: How Inmarsat Hacked Their Data to Find Flight MH370|access-date=24 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/26/world/asia/australia-missing-malaysian-plane/|title=Australia: MH370 probably on autopilot as it flew south - CNN.com|date=26 June 2014|publisher=CNN|first1=Jethro|last1=Mullen|first2=Pamela|last2=Boykoff|access-date=24 April 2015}}</ref>

* 17 July 2014&nbsp;– [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 17]], a [[Boeing 777-200ER]]&nbsp;– registered ''9M-MRD''&nbsp;– en route to Kuala Lumpur International Airport from [[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]] was shot down over Ukraine by a [[Buk missile system|Buk]] [[surface-to-air missile]].<ref name="CNN MH370-17">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/17/world/europe/malaysia-airlines-sidebar/index.html?iid=article_sidebar|title=A second lost Boeing 777 for Malaysia Airlines|date=17 July 2014|last1=Patterson|first1=Thom|website=CNN|access-date=18 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Paul Sonne |author2=Alan Cullison |author3=Julian E. Barnes |url=https://online.wsj.com/articles/malaysia-airlines-loses-contact-with-plane-over-ukrainian-airspace-1405612373 |title=U.S. Says Missile Downed Malaysia Airlines Plane Over Ukraine |date=17 July 2014 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=18 July 2014}}</ref> All 283 passengers and 15 crew members aboard were killed.

 

==See also==

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}181.

 

 

==External links==