Malaysia Airlines’ CEO Addressed Few Rumors Surrounding the Airline

Malaysia Airlines Logo
Malaysia Airlines Logo

Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has deined some of the allegation that the airline is facing as a result of unreliable foreign news report.

MAS denied the allegations that it is in the process of placing orders for 100 additional aircraft. According to Ahmad Jauhari, the ones that they are looking for is just the replacements of Boeing 777 planes that would be gradually retired by 2018.

Justifying the airline’s fourth quarterly consecutive loss, Jauhari explained because of an item that needs to be written off from engineering inventory. The item is said to belong to retired aircraft. The adjustment has caused the airline a negative value of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA). According to a quarterly report ending December 2013 of MAS, the EBITDA was recorded at negative RM 56 billion.

MAS has been in a series of losses throughout the years. Struggling for black digits written on its account book, MAS is still lagging behind with just 28% of carrier share in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), compared to 56% as it used to hold back then in 2005.

Sources:

  1. The Star Online – Airline chiefs in M’sia speak out on price war
  2. The Star Online – MAS denies ordering 100 planes, expects no operating loss in coming quarters

 

Fastest Way to Travel between KLIA Main Terminal Building and klia2

klia2 - 2014-07-15 08.12.21
klia2 – 2014-07-15 08.12.21

The newly opened klia2 terminal not so far from the existing Main Terminal Building (MTB), Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Before the new terminal opens, low-cost flights were operated at LCCT, a makeshift terminal modified from a cargo terminal. Facilities placement was improper and the previous LCCT was deemed unfit to cater unexpected growth of passengers. Besides, being a cargo terminal, connectivity with MTB is poor.

The new klia2 has dedicated ERL tracks linking it to MTB and upwards to Kuala Lumpur city centre. Both KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit trains stop at klia2 terminal. Therefore, passengers can board either train to travel between MTB and klia2.

RM 2 charge is required for the terminal transfer and it is payable by cash at the ticket counter or via usage of Touch ‘N Go card.

klia2 Experience – October 14th 2014 [ Part 1 ]

I flew AirAsia to from Kuala Lumpur to Penang on Tuesday, October 14th 2014. The main purpose of the trip is to take a look at the newly-launched klia2 terminal and Penang International Airport which has been renovated recently.

Since it’s an early flight, I decided to come to the airport really early and spend half of my night there. I took the earliest bus available from KL Sentral, which is at 3 AM.

I took Skybus, the official shuttle bus for AirAsia. Other than KL Sentral, Skybus also offer service between 1 Utama and klia2, aimed for those who want to avoid KL traffic jam or just want to buy something at the shopping mall before boarding their aircraft.

klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 05.56.46
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 05.56.46

It feels very much like an airport in a shopping mall rather than vice versa. There is A LOT of retail space available, making even one-day transit seems short for travelers.

klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 05.56.55
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 05.56.55

Homegrown restaurant chain, Melur & Thyme will be operating in klia2 real soon.

 

klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 05.58.24
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 05.58.24

For some unknown reasons, klia2 self check-in kiosks are there for months already but they have not been operating yet.

 

klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 05.58.44
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 05.58.44

The food court is now operational and they offer a good array of Malaysian delicacies. Did I tell you it comes with an affordable price too?

There is also Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) on Level 2 and the server there is well-trained for tourists. Regardless whether I look Malaysian or not, they will greet and smile at me. There is quite a number of waitstaff in restaurants who only smile at you and treat you nice if you dress up real decent or look like tourists from Western countries.

 

klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 05.58.59
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 05.58.59

Level 2M or 2 Mezzanine is dubbed as “relaxation zone with generous space to relax and unwind. Some overnight travelers even sleep here.

klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 05.59.07
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 05.59.07
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 05.59.50
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 05.59.50

We can see most of the signages have estimated walking time displayed, enabling people who aren’t familiar with the airport to estimate their time walking to the gate. Being an airport with huge retail space, this will increase foot traffic into the shops.

 

klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 05.59.58
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 05.59.58

One more minute to departures gate.

 

This is the end of Part 1, I will tell you more about klia2 in Part 2 soon.

klia2 Experience – October 14th 2014 [ Part 2 ]

Before passengers proceed to boarding gates on Departure level (Level 3), they need to walk through an open air area. There is a dedicated smoking area, some place to sit and relax as well as some greeneries.

klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.11.20
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.11.20

When klia2 is constructed, a new control tower is also built. It holds the record as the highest control tower in the world with height above 100 meters.

 

klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.09.55
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.09.55

A lot of AirAsia aircraft can be seen at the gates, ready for their early morning departure.

 

klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.06.13
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.06.13

Taxiway

 

klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.05.44
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.05.44

This is the smoking area for klia2.

 

klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.05.30
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.05.30

Another view of AirAsia Airbus A320 aircraft. To save maintenance and training costs, they have decided to use only a single type of Aircraft, namely Airbus A320.

 

klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.05.17
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.05.17
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.05.08
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.05.08
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.04.08
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.04.08

You can dine open-air at Quizinn by Rasa food court, on Level 2.

Stay tuned for Part 3…

klia2 Experience – October 14th 2014 [ Part 3 ]

Departure level

klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.16.39
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.16.39
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.13.56
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.13.56
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.12.49
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.12.49
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.14.37
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.14.37
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.44.14
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.44.14
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.44.08
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.44.08
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.43.44
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.43.44
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.43.35
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.43.35
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.42.37
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.42.37
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.42.29
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.42.29
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.42.15
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.42.15
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.18.45
klia2 Terminal, KL International Airport 2014-10-14 06.18.45