Malaysia Airlines looks set to retain Heathrow presence

London Air Travel » Malaysian Airlines

Malaysia Airlines Airbus A380 London Heathrow
Malaysia Airlines Airbus A380 London Heathrow (Image Credit: Heathrow)

There has been much speculation in recent months about the future of Malaysia Airlines’ long-haul routes, specifically those to Europe, after it became known that the airline was planning a radical restructuring and reports that much of its long-haul fleet, including its Airbus A380s, were being put up for sale.

At a press conference today incoming CEO Christoph Mueller outlined in very broad terms some aspects of the restructuring.

It is known that the restructuring will involve the transfer of operations to a new legal entity and approximately 6,000 job cuts.

Christoph Mueller would not be drawn on specific route decisions, other than to say that London was considered a flagship route and would stay.

Furthermore, the airline would seek joint-venture relationships with fellow Oneworld alliance partners.

We would not rule out some form of capacity cut, either through reducing its twice-daily London Heathrow-Kuala Lumpur frequency and/or by downsizing from an Airbus A380.  

Published traffic data for this route suggests that a double-daily A380 is excessive.

There is also scope to form a joint-venture with British Airways, which returned to Kuala Lumpur only last week, with mutual code sharing on the route and “back and beyond” routes to from London and Kuala Lumpur, as BA currently has with American Airlines and Japan Airlines.

Further details are expected in the coming weeks.

Malaysia Airlines voluntarily enters administration

London Air Travel » Malaysian Airlines

Malaysia Airlines Airbus A380 London Heathrow
Malaysia Airlines Airbus A380 London Heathrow (Image Credit: Heathrow)

Malaysia Airlines has today announced that the company has voluntarily entered into administration.

Under this process the assets of the business will be transferred to a new company which will take over its operations. This is a common means of restructuring a company in financial distress.

There has been speculation about the future of Malaysia Airlines’ long-haul network, particularly in light of reports that its fleet of Airbus A380s, which are used to operate its twice daily London Heathrow – Kuala Lumpur services, are for sale.

However, Malaysia Airlines is at pains to announce that flights are open for booking and are operating normally.
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Where is Flight MH370 asks BBC2’s “Horizon”

London Air Travel » Malaysian Airlines

The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 on 8 March 2014 continues to be one of the greatest aviation mysteries in recent times.

In spite of the fact that more than three months have passed since the loss of the aircraft, its black box has yet to be located.

Furthermore, whilst it was thought that the aircraft was lost in the southern Indian Ocean, this has now been discounted after an extensive search operation.

On Tuesday 17 June 2014, BBC2’s Horizon tells what it claims to be the inside story of the search for flight MH370, with access to those on the frontline in the southern Indian Ocean and the British satellite engineers who tracked the plane’s final hours.

The film reveals how MH370 disappeared in a radar blind spot; what investigators believe happened to the aircraft in its last minutes; and how the area in which it could be found is still to be searched.

Horizon also examines the new technologies, like black box streaming and enhanced air traffic surveillance, that mean an airliner should never vanish without trace again.

MH370 – A special by Monocle 24’s “The Foreign Desk”

London Air Travel » Malaysian Airlines

In the three weeks that have passed since the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 much of the media coverage has been of highly variable quality.

With so few facts but insatiable demand from audiences (CNN in North America has doubled its audience in its main demographic by devoting near blanket coverage to the story), news organisations have had to rely heavily on speculation and guess work.

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