19.09.2023 - 00:51 UTC
Malaysia Airlines (MH, Kuala Lumpur International) has taken delivery of ten new hi-lift trucks, helping break a logistical log jam at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) that prevented the timely delivery of catering to aircraft. The airline also says hot meal services have resumed on flights impacted by the recent catering challenges.
The airline's longstanding catering contract with Brahim's Food Services (BFS) ended on August 31, 2023, after contract renewal talks failed to resolve an impasse concerning certain clauses. No new catering contract with an alternative supplier was in place. While some other food service providers with smaller catering contracts with the airline, including Pos Aviation Sdn Bhd and MAS Awana Services Sdn Bhd, were able to service some routes, inflight catering on many other routes was scaled back as the airline struggled with securing a supplier and then getting the provisions on and off aircraft.
Malaysia Airlines still needs to resolve its supplier situation but says it is proactively enhancing and fine-tuning its pre-packaged meal components during the interim period. The airline...
18.09.2023 - 23:03 UTC
New Zealand successfully concluded negotiations for an air services agreement with ASEAN during a final round of talks in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on September 13.
The ASEAN-New Zealand Air Services Agreement (ANZ-ASA) will allow airlines from signatory countries to operate more passenger and/or cargo services between and beyond ASEAN and New Zealand. ASEAN member states include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Viet Nam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
Per Protocol 1 of the ANZ-ASA, eligible airlines can operate between ASEAN countries and New Zealand with unlimited 3rd and 4th freedom traffic rights. In addition, eligible airlines will be able to fly up to seven weekly services with 5th freedom traffic rights in addition to existing bilateral entitlements between individual ASEAN states and New Zealand for one year from the date of entry into force of the agreement and up to 14 weekly services with 5th freedom traffic rights in addition to existing bilateral entitlements after one year from the date of entry into force of the agreement.
Tom Forster, Manager of Economic Regulation at New...
13.09.2023 - 02:30 UTC
Sarawak Premier Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg says his planned state-owned airline would likely fly to Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Speaking to local media on the sidelines of a September 6 transport conference in Kuching, the premier said the Sarawak state government was advancing its plans to takeover MASwings (MY, Kota Kinabalu) and establish it as a Sarawak-based airline. MASwings is currently owned by the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG). The Malaysian government ultimately owns that entity.
"The strategic advantage of having a Sarawak airline will allow us control over route preferences," he said. “We will not be limited to the decisions of private airlines because we can tailor our flight offerings to cater to destinations in the Philippines, Indonesia and also to Bandar Seri Begawan."
Openg has campaigned for a locally-based airline for some time now. He argues Sarawak residents need better connectivity and more competitive airfares. However, Sarawak's capital, Kuching, is home to one of Malaysia's busiest airports. According to ch-aviation PRO airports...
11.09.2023 - 01:08 UTC
Malaysia Airlines (MH, Kuala Lumpur International) is experiencing some passenger discontent after ending its pre-existing catering contract on September 1 without having locked in another provider. Consequently, some passengers are complaining about being served packaged food such as biscuits and bread on flights rather than the traditional in-flight meal. Malaysia Airlines has long enjoyed a strong reputation for its inflight catering.
As previously reported in ch-aviation, Malaysia Airlines' parent company, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), ended its 26-year catering contract with Brahim's Food Services Sdn Bhd (BFS) on September 1 after failing to agree on certain new contractual clauses. As a result, Malaysia Airlines implemented its business continuity plan to ensure catering still reached its departing flights.
Pending negotiating a new contract, the airline is now using eight providers, including Pos Aviation Sdn Bhd and MAS Awana Services Sdn Bhd. Pos Aviation had previously catered for certain Malaysia Airlines flights, including flights to Japan and South Korea. They have since taken on the catering for flights to the United Kingdom, the Middle East,...
