Malaysia Airlines Eyes A350 But Wants First Deliveries in 2017

Malaysia Airlines could decide between the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 as its future of its long-range fleet as early as March/2015 for delivery in 2017 as a first step in a sweeping restructuring of the airline.

The Malaysian flag-carrier is preparing to be nationalised under full control of state-run Khazanah Nasional by year’s end and choosing a fuel-efficient replacement for its ageing Boeing 777 fleet is now a high priority for the airline.

“We definitely see an urgent need to have a long-term fleet plan for MAS” said Mr PK Lee, Regional Senior Vice President of Malaysia Airlines.

Source: publico.pt

“Once we establish a new business model consistent with our aspirations as a premium airline, we need to align this to our fleet plan” Lee told Australian Business Traveller in Kuala Lumpur.

“In March/2015 we will have an accurate picture of our first design for the new business – including fleet size, fleet types and fleet plan – so this will be an important milestone for making that decision so that in 2-3 years time we have the best aircraft for the long term.”

Lee said that while replacing the Boeing 777s had previously been discussed, “the total revamp of the organisation is an opportunity for MAS to seriously look at the fleet type”, adding that the issue was “definitely more important” in light of the pending nationalisation.

“The A350 and 787 are both very good aircraft, as to which we choose, it depends whether Airbus and  Boeing can convince us which is the better fit” Lee said, “but so far we have not looked into the 777X.”

Source: publico.pt

Lee said that despite Malaysia Airlines’ financial woes – the airline airline has racked up debts of $1.5 billion since 2011 – bulking up the fleet with factory-fresh aircraft would not be beyond the airline once its nationalisations is complete.

“Definitely we will have the money to buy them” Lee says. “As the national carrier we have 100% support from the Government”.

Malaysia Airlines Regional To Re-Launch as LCC

Malaysian regional airline MASWings will re-launch as a low-cost carrier next year with the addition of Boeing 737-800s under Malaysia Airlines’ restructuring exercise, according to a senior official at the government’s strategic investment arm, Khazanah Nasional Berhad (KNB). To be based at Kota Kinabalu International Airport in the East Malaysian state of Sabah, MASWings’ jet fleet will initially consist of four aircraft leased from the open market. Plans call for MASWings to operate as an entity separate from MAS and reincorporate as a new company at a later date.

According to the KNB official, MASWings’ network will include destinations to China, within four hours of flying time from Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. KNB holds a 69.4-percent stake inMAS. “In the current scenario, it will be tough for MASWings to survive in the market as a community airline with the growing competition,” he said. The carrier currently competes with AirAsia and Malindo on several routes within Sabah and Sarawak.

Contacted for comment, a Malaysia Airlines spokesperson declined to offer any details. “Planning is still under way; as such it is still too early to comment on anything that is not concrete,” she said in a written statement to AIN. MASWings will continue operating its ATR72-500s and -600s and Viking Twin Otter fleets for domestic and rural services, respectively, after its re-launch as an LCC. The Malaysian government grants subsidies for flights to the interior of the two states where air travel is the only mode of transport.

MASWings currently operates 10 ATR 72-500s, four ATR 72-600s and five Viking Twin Otters. It expects to take another eight new ATR 72-600s through 2016.

MASWings started operations in October 2007 and now maintains a network of 22 domestic destinations. It also offers flights to Tarakan and Pontianak in Indonesia and Puetro Princessa in the Philippines.

Separately, plans call for MAS’s reorganization, slated to take place next July, to result in the independence of fellow regional subsidiary Firefly. Based at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, 15 miles outside Kuala Lumpur, it too will operate as a separate company.

Emirates To Launch A380 On Three New Routes Next Week

Dubai-based Emirates is all set to launch the jumbo A380 jet on three new routes in the first week of December, the airline said in a statement.

It will deploy the jet on routes to San Francisco, Milan and Houston from next week. With these three latest additions, Emirates A380 route network will total 33 destinations from Auckland in the East to Los Angeles in the West.

“Emirates now has 55 A380s in its fleet, one third of all A380s currently in the skies,” said Hubert Frach, Emirates divisional senior vice president, commercial operations West.

“Having the ability to launch three new A380 destinations in three days is no small feat. It requires careful planning, multi-department coordination, airport preparedness and above all the tenacity to make it happen.”

About 11 new A380 aircraft have joined the Emirates fleet this year, the company said.

The airline has also launched nine new A380 destinations in the past 12 months with its most recent ones being Mumbai, Frankfurt, Dallas and Kuwait. The superjumbo was also launched for a one-off showcase to cities such as Glasgow, Manila, Tehran and Vienna.

Over 32 million passengers have travelled in its A380 till date, the airline said.

Among its many features, the superjumbo has first class suites, 14 private cabins that also include shower spas and an on-board lounge where passengers from first class and business class can socialise during their flight.

Emirates, which is the largest operator of A380s worldwide, has over 10,000 cabin crew and 900 flight deck crew specially trained to operate its growing A380 fleet. It also has another 89 A380 planes on order, as of November.

Recently, the airline’s chief executive Sir Tim Clark said that Emirates is willing to purchase more A380s if aircraft manufacturer Airbus updates the jumbo jet with more fuel-efficient engines by 2020.

But despite Emirates’ interest in expanding its A380 fleet, Airbus has said that there are no immediate plans to revamp jet engines.

Thankful

I have a lot to be thankful for. I am healthy, happy and I am loved.

- Reba McEntire  

Gratitude - Part 005 : November 28th 2014

It's thanksgiving today and I just thought to myself,I should be thankful for everything that has been given to me. From the smallest thing to the utmost craziest change in my life. For some reason, everything happen for a reason.

To my family, love ones, and friends. Without y'all, this year would be challenging. I know there are more obstacles to come, but the faith and hope hall have given me, I couldn't be more thankful for all that love. There are a few really big changes, but I'm glad there are so much good to come. 

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough. 

This was a quote I've always remember when I first met this amazing woman. Whenever things went the way I didn't expect or hope for, this is one thing that that keeps me from losing every satiny that was in me. I do not have a lot right now, but I'm thankful for all the goodness life have given me. The power of giving back is so wonderful I really am at the lost of words to describe how and what I feel. 

All I know now, the path in front of me might be rough, but I know that I'll never walk that path alone. To the beautiful souls in Nashville, L.A., Manhattan, Stolckholm, Melborne and KL, I would never be who I am today with y'all believing in me. I'll be eternally grateful for all that love given. You know who you are. 

Last but not least, I'm thankful to have be loved by you and loving you is the best thing that happened in 2014 for me. 

American Music Awards 2014

THE 2014 AMAs WINNERS

Take a look at the line-up of nominees for the 2014 American Music Awards. Check back throughout the night to find out who wins in each category.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

WINNER

One Direction
Iggy Azalea
Beyoncé
Luke Bryan
Katy Perry

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY KOHL'S

WINNER

5 Seconds of Summer
Iggy Azalea
Bastille
Sam Smith
Meghan Trainor

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

WINNER

Katy Perry Featuring Juicy J "Dark Horse"
Iggy Azalea Featuring Charli XCX "Fancy"
John Legend "All of Me"
MAGIC! "Rude"
Pharrell Williams "Happy"

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST - POP/ROCK

WINNER

Sam Smith
John Legend
Pharrell Williams

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST - POP/ROCK

WINNER

Katy Perry
Iggy Azalea
Lorde

FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP - POP/ROCK

WINNER

One Direction
Imagine Dragons
OneRepublic

FAVORITE ALBUM - POP/ROCK

WINNER

One Direction "Midnight Memories"
Lorde "Pure Heroine"
Katy Perry "Prism"

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST - COUNTRY

WINNER

Luke Bryan
Jason Aldean
Blake Shelton

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST - COUNTRY

WINNER

Carrie Underwood
Miranda Lambert
Kacey Musgraves

FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP - COUNTRY

WINNER

Florida Georgia Line
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum

FAVORITE ALBUM - COUNTRY

WINNER

Brantley Gilbert "Just As I Am"
Garth Brooks "Blame It On My Roots: Five Decades of Influences"
Eric Church "The Outsiders"

FAVORITE ARTIST - RAP/HIP-HOP

WINNER

Iggy Azalea
Drake
Eminem

FAVORITE ALBUM - RAP/HIP-HOP

WINNER

Iggy Azalea "The New Classic"
Drake "Nothing Was The Same"
Eminem "The Marshall Mathers LP 2"

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST - SOUL/R&B

WINNER

John Legend
Chris Brown
Pharrell Williams

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST - SOUL/R&B

WINNER

Beyoncé
Jhené Aiko
Mary J. Blige

FAVORITE ALBUM - SOUL/R&B

WINNER

Beyoncé "Beyoncé"
John Legend "Love in the Future"
Pharrell Williams "G I R L"

FAVORITE ARTIST - ALTERNATIVE ROCK

WINNER

Imagine Dragons
Bastille
Lorde

FAVORITE ARTIST - ADULT CONTEMPORARY

WINNER

Katy Perry
Sara Bareilles
OneRepublic

FAVORITE ARTIST - LATIN

WINNER

Enrique Iglesias
Marc Anthony
Romeo Santos

FAVORITE ARTIST - CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL

WINNER

Casting Crowns
Hillsong United
Newsboys

FAVORITE ARTIST - ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM)

WINNER

Calvin Harris
Avicii
Zedd

TOP SOUNDTRACK

WINNER

Frozen
The Fault In Our Stars
Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix, Vol. 1