Malaysian Airline System Returns

Malaysia Airlines unveiled a new B737-800 in original Malaysian Airline System livery. It is part of Malaysia Airlines 40th anniversary celebrations.

The aircraft with tail number 9M-MXA was unveiled by Chairman Tan Srì Mohd Nor Yusof. Present is MD Ahmad Jauhari Yahya and several BOD members and senior management. Also invited are 1,000 employees of the national carrier. The unveiling ceremony was at Hangar 5, Malaysia Airlines Engineering Complex, Souther Support Zone, KLIA.

Seven of the long service employees were invited to speak and share their wealth of experience on the makeshift stage. Alex was the first to speak. He is one of the rare who is still serving Malaysia Airlines when it started operations on 1 October 1972.

Captain Abdul Shukor was commandeering a Fokker over thirty years ago on a flight over Banjaran Titiwangsa when he was asked to look out for a missing aircraft, last reported near Janda Baik. Later, he learnt that the missing Cessna was piloted by then Home Minister Tan Sri Ghazali Shafie and it had crashed.

The other stewardess told the audience of her experience over 35 years ago serving the B707-200 flights to London Heathrow. There were no trollies like on aircrafts today, so each meal was taken from to each passengers. Since there were no inflight movies and no bunks for crew to rest, they were encouraged to chat up with passengers during the flight.

The aircraft is the first of the airlines’ B737-800 workhorse latest fleet. This special livery brought memories to many and the romance of air travel, especially in the 70s.

It was nostalgic indeed. Befits the unveiling of the original Malaysian Airline System livery to remind the instrument of nation building’s illustrious 40 years history. The national carrier is set to regain their past glory.