Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia Options

[forrestcat]

Good idea, let AirAsia handle domestic and ASEAN flights and MAS handle the International flights.

[Hellkite]

Bad news for MAS travellers, MAS raising fares again on 1st Jan 2006. Who will fly MAS now?? This time it affects all including economy class. I'd rather fly Thai Airways or SIA now even though have to transit. At least I'll save a few hundred!!

[Iron Malayan]

(Bloomberg) -- Malaysian Airline System Bhd. Chairman Munir Majid has denied allegations that he abused his position for ``self-gratification,'' saying the carrier's purchase of three paintings was an investment decision.

Malaysian lawmakers told parliament that the purchase of paintings by Colombia's Fernando Botero for 1.5 million ringgit ($397,000) and other excesses may have contributed to losses at the airline. Senator Syed Ali Alhabshee yesterday called for Munir to resign, the Malay Mail newspaper reported today.

``These allegations are not true,'' Munir said today in a statement. ``The insinuations made from these allegations are defamatory of me and clearly intended to destroy my reputation in the eyes of the public.''

Malaysian Airline blamed higher fuel costs for its second quarterly loss in the three months ended September. The carrier this month hired a former oil company executive, Idris Jala, as managing director to help it cut costs and boost traffic.

Munir said the carrier decided to buy the three paintings in December 2004, before reporting two successive declines in quarterly profit.

``The imputation that the investment in three works of art was for the chairman's self-gratification, again at a time of financial distress, is another lie,'' the 57-year-old chairman said. ``They are assets of the company. They do not hang in the chairman's office, as has been alleged.''

Munir also rejected claims that he had his office renovated without regard for the company's financial position, saying the decision was made ``before my time.''

``To suggest that I ordered the renovations, at a time of financial distress, and to the chairman's office alone is a falsehood, which intentionally disregards the facts,'' he said.

A former journalist, Munir, who was chairman of Malaysia's Securities Commission from 1993 to 1999 and was appointed chairman of the carrier on Aug. 1, 2004, also denied he flew for free on the airline.

Malaysian Airline's net income fell to 367.7 million ringgit in the three months ended September, from 132.7 million ringgit a year earlier.

[malaccan]

What was Munir Majid thinking buying those 3 pictures for RM1.55? (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_confused.gif)
For all the shenannigans going on at the top, the MAS airlines cabin crew themselves are doing a great job despite meagre perks compared to SIA.
Funny how the better AirAsia gets, the worse MAS seems to be.
I hope AirAsia launches the Laos and Myanmar flights sometime next year.

[Iron Malayan]

What was Munir Majid thinking buying those 3 pictures for RM1.55?  (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_confused.gif)

Maybe he thought it was a good investment.

Art lovers laud MAS’ purchase of paintings

BY VERONICA SHUNMUGAM

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines’ purchase of three paintings for RM1.55mil have drawn flak from the Dewan Negara and the public but those in the art scene say it may actually reflect sound business sense and be good for the company’s cultural image.

Apart from building a love for the arts, they say, banks, hotels, universities and even hospitals do collect art pieces as investments.

“Artwork is an asset, not a liability. In fact, certain pieces serve as investments that usually appreciate in value,” said the manager of a top regional private gallery.

MAS’ purchase of two paintings by Fernando Botero and one by Sophia Vari became a hot topic in the Dewan Negara on Tuesday.

Senator Datuk Syed Ali Alhabshee urged MAS chairman Datuk Dr Munir Majid to resign on Thursday and the Senators Club called for an independent commission to investigate alleged irregularities in MAS.

On Friday, Dr Munir denied allegations made in several poison-pen letters about him and his conduct as MAS chairman.

According to people in the art scene, MAS – like other parties such as Bank Negara, Maybank and Petronas – ranks highly as a patron of the arts. 

It has bought many Malaysian artwork over the years and flown local artists and their works to exhibitions overseas for free.

In fact, two veteran artists have called on it to continue backing local talents.

“We should credit MAS for having supported local visual artists for many years. MAS should expand its role in promoting local artists and their works overseas,” says national art laureate and former National Art Gallery director Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal.

Dr Jolly Koh said any national corporate body would want to have its country’s top artists give it a cultural face beyond that of a “money-grabbing machine.” 

“When corporations buy the works of young artists, it could be claimed that they are supporting art. But when they buy from top senior artists, it is the artist and the artwork that give prestige to the corporations,” he added. 

[malaccan]

Now they planning to sell the MAS headquarters near jalan sultan ismail....

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/malaccan/aamu1.jpg)
(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/malaccan/aamu2.jpg)
The new AirAsia plane with MU livery.

[Aranadhel]

Now they planning to sell the MAS headquarters near jalan sultan ismail....

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/malaccan/aamu1.jpg)
(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/malaccan/aamu2.jpg)
The new AirAsia plane with MU livery.

GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED!! (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[tengkuafif]

I would choose MAS over any other international airlines.
Good service,speak my language,feel like I'm at home,not foreign and halal food.

This post has been edited by tengkuafif: Jan 17 2006, 07:04 AM

[malaccan]

^I always fly MAS whenever possible, especially when I know my travel dates in advance. Otherwise it's either KLM direct to KL, BA via Singapore or Bangkok or SIA. Used to fly Thai before, but not so much now. Last week I flew Air France to Bangkok then AirAsia to KL.Why? Cos theirs was the cheapest fare. The great thing about flying these foreign airlines is that if we request for halal food, we get served first before the other passengers. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/munch.gif)

Absolutely agree with what you said regarding Malaysia Airlines feeling like home. The moment I step onto the plane at Heathrow, I feel like I'm already back in Malaysia. You can't buy that kind of feeling.

[rx7boy]

I should try MAS one day..I only fly using Emirates because MAS only operates in Frankfurt. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_sad.gif)

[Iron Malayan]

(Bloomberg) -- Malaysian Airline System Bhd., the country's largest airline, will raise its fuel surcharge on flights to Asian routes by almost three times on rising fuel costs. It will also impose a new fee for ticketing costs.

The surcharge on flights to South Asian countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives will rise to $50 from $18 and the levy on flights from these areas to Malaysia will rise to $50 from $20, the airline said today in a faxed statement in Kuala Lumpur. The rates take effect Feb. 1.

``Fuel cost continues to remain as the single largest expense item for all carriers,'' Malaysia Air said. The higher surcharges and new fee are ``in line with industry practices'' and will help the airline ``remain competitive,'' it said.

The airline, which raised fuel surcharges five times last year to cover higher fuel expenses, is seeking to cut costs and raise funds to return to profit. It reported a loss of 367.7 million ringgit in the three months ended Sept. 30, blaming higher fuel prices.

The surcharge on flights to China, Hong Kong and Korea will also be raised to $50 from $18, while the surcharge on flights from China to Malaysia will remain at $20, Malaysian Air said.

The airline will introduce for the first time an administrative charge for issuing international tickets from Feb. 1, to cover ticketing and related costs, it said. It will also raise insurance charges for international flights.

Jet fuel in Singapore surged 49 percent in 2005 from a year earlier, according to oil-pricing service Platts. It has risen 7.8 percent so far this year to $77.44 a barrel on Jan. 19.

Higher jet fuel prices may have caused the global airline industry to post combined losses of $7.4 billion last year, while fuel bills may rise 54 percent to $97 billion, the International Air Transport Association has said.

[Mogembo..]

Malaysian airlines was great, plenty of movies to watch and video games to play on the long flight, not to mention good food and dessert. Friendly staff and good price.

And of course it was entertaining to see the nice Indian steward getting unknowingly hit on by a typical gay chinese steward who was constantly touching his @$$ half the time.

[Iron Malayan]

Indeed. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif)

[malaccan]

It's really depressing reading the news about MAS nowadays. The stewardesses are first class, but management suxx.

On the other hand, Air Asia is going places. But why have the LCC 15 km from KLIA? Isn't that a bit too far for folks on transit who want to catch a full-fare flight? (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_confused.gif)

[pancaindera]

yes, management sucks. once in klia, i was waiting for my flight to kk which was supposed to leave at 7.10pm. i was waiting at the departure gate. however at 7.00pm we were still not called to board. they never said anything. then at 7.20! they made an announcement saying that the flight was gonna be delayed! like (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/duh2.gif) .
they should at least announce it earlier, at least keep us informed, rather than in the dark. this aint 5 star service at all.

[pancaindera]

It's really depressing reading the news about MAS nowadays.  The stewardesses are first class, but management suxx.

On the other hand, Air Asia is going places. But why have the LCC 15 km from KLIA? Isn't that a bit too far for folks on transit who want to catch a full-fare flight?  (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_confused.gif)

yes stewardess are hot. air asia stewardess also look sizzling (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/love2.gif) . but not sure about their service.

what is LCC?

[malaccan]

yes stewardess are hot. air asia stewardess also look sizzling  (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/love2.gif) . but not sure about their service.
what is LCC?

When I said the stewardesses ar first class, I was referring to their services, not good looks. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif)
LCC=Low cost carrier

[pancaindera]

^ oops. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_redface.gif) . my bad... (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif) 2

[samheisfl]

Idris Jala said the MAS will make RM50 mill. profit next year and RM500 mill. in 2008...

This post has been edited by samheisfl: Feb 28 2006, 06:55 AM

[malaccan]

From yesterday's The Star,
MAS-Air France meeting on SkyTeam

Star Alliance is out cos both Thai and Singapore Airlines are already in it.
OneWorld can't be totally discounted, cos Cathay Pacific's the only Asian carrier. But BA and Qantas particularly, are already deeply rooted in Singapore. and won't be too keen on having MAS onboard.

So indeed the best bet would appear to be Skyteam, especially given that it's coverage of southeast Asia is very poor and that it only has Korean Airlines as its Asian partner. Add to that MAS' strong co-operation with KLM and we potentially have a winner. The stumbling block is seemingly Air France, which is rumoured to have opposed MAS' entry before this. Which can't be surprising given MH's poor financial position these last few years.

Hopefully we'll see the wau emblem joining this line-up in the not-too-distant future.
(IMG:http://www.skyteam.com/img/newHome/bandeau_haut_logo.gif)

MAS managing director Idris Jala said part of the route rationalisation plan for Europe involved focusing on four trunk lines - London, Paris, Amsterdam and Rome - instead of point-to-point routes.

Fingers crossed. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_neutral.gif)