KUALA LUMPUR (March 10): Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd (MAG), the parent of national carrier Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, MASwings and Amal, expects to achieve approximately 70% of its pre-Covid-19 capacity by the end of 2022 as Malaysia gears up to reopen its borders to international travellers starting April 1.
“For January and February 2022, we operated at about 23% of 2019’s available seat kilometres (ASK) levels for the same period. Moving forward, we intend to ramp up capacity in line with borders re-opening and demand forecasts," a spokesperson for MAG told theedgemarkets.com.
Covid-19 has had a significant impact on the airline industry. Since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, airlines have cut their capacity by as much as 96% and grounded most of their aircraft due to travel restrictions. However, more countries in Asia-Pacific, including the Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and Bali in Indonesia, are reopening their doors to foreigners.
"In support of the safe reopening of the nation’s borders, MAG will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Transport, in reinstating flights that have been temporarily suspended and also increase frequency to key markets to facilitate connectivity as we anticipate pent-up demand from inbound and outbound travellers," MAG group chief executive officer Captain Izham Ismail said in a statement on Thursday (March 10).
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the country will reopen its borders and transition into the endemic phase of Covid-19 from April 1.
Izham said the move signifies a momentous occasion in the nation’s long-standing battle with the pandemic and a beacon of light for the economic recovery of industries, including aviation, which had been impacted significantly since Malaysia’s borders were closed two years ago.
On its part, he noted that MAG had fully vaccinated its operating pilots and cabin crew as early as August 2021.
He said MAG will continue to play its role to support Malaysia’s #ReopeningSafely strategy, so that passengers can fly confidently with Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, MASwings and Amal.
"MAG stands guided by the government’s directives and appreciates the government’s intervention to simplify the standard operating procedures, so that travellers entering Malaysia can do so seamlessly.
"As a member of the Travel Safe Alliance Malaysia, MAG will continue to advocate and facilitate seamless, safe and hygienic travel experiences for all its passengers by ensuring high standards of safety and hygiene put in place throughout all travel touchpoints in line with its MHFlySafe initiative," he added.