This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on January 8, 2016.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines Bhd (Malaysia Airlines), which is offering its Boeing 777-200ER (extended range) pilots a mutual separation scheme (MSS) as it phases out the aircraft from its fleet by the end of this month, said 40% of them are taking up the offer.

“Individual pilots have requested to leave Malaysia Airlines and on a case-by-case basis, a MSS has been offered. A total of 40% of the 777 pilots have made a voluntary request for the MSS on an individual basis,” Malaysia Airlines said in an email reply to The Edge Financial Daily yesterday.

Apart from the MSS, the national carrier said the pilots were also earlier given a choice of career options, which included voluntary secondment to other airlines in Asia or the Middle East, voluntary no-pay long-term leave to pursue other careers, or to remain at Malaysia Airlines and await possible long-term vacancies for other aircraft.

“All options are entirely voluntary for the individual pilots and no 777 pilot has been requested to leave the airline,” it added.

Malaysia Airlines declined to reveal the number of pilots offered the MSS. The Edge Financial Daily yesterday reported that the pilots have until today to accept the MSS offered by the airline.

“With the Emirates partnership and the subsequent closure of loss-making Amsterdam and Paris routes, Malaysia Airlines will end the use of its long-haul 777-200s. The aircraft, some of which are 20 years old, will be retired from the fleet and sold,” said the airline.

Malaysia Airlines is facing a surplus of pilots as the airline’s 777 fleet is being phased out, and as it cuts international seat capacity to leverage on its strong regional position since August 2014.

With the phasing out of the 777s, Malaysia Airlines will be left with six A380s, 19 A330s, 54 737-800s and four A330-200F freighters.