KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 2): Following the network reduction announcement on Aug 24, Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd (MAG), the parent company of Malaysia Airlines Bhd, said all necessary flight cancellations for August to December this year have been completed.
In a Facebook post over the weekend, MAG gave assurance to its passengers that for those who have not received any cancellation notice, their flights remain unaffected and will continue to operate as scheduled.
Last week, MAG said the reduction in its network, following multiple disruptions to its services that took place in recent weeks, involves 20% of its capacity. This involves services across the routes of its three airlines — Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and Amal — within Malaysia, as well as Asean, North Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Greater China, South Asia and the Middle East.
In the latest flight disruption, a Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) bound for Seoul reportedly had to divert back to KLIA shortly after takeoff on Sunday, after the flight encountered a hydraulic issue.
In the statement last week, MAG group managing director Datuk Captain Izham Ismail said that the global shortage of aircraft parts has affected the on-time delivery of its new aircraft orders, which in turn impacted its fleet planning. He added that the group has also experienced attrition of a skilled workforce as new maintenance, repair and overhaul players, both local and international, have entered the Malaysian market.
The group was scheduled to receive 17 new aircraft orders this year, comprising 13 Boeing 737-8 and four Airbus A330neo aircraft.
To date, it has only received four 737-8s out of the 13 contractually agreed by 2024. As for the A330neo, MAG was scheduled to receive four aircraft but is now expected to receive three by year end, with the first A330neo due for delivery sometime this month.