Another one bites the dust.
According to Sydney Morning Herald, Malaysia Airlines has confirmed on Thursday (25th July) that the airline will be terminating its daily services to Brisbane, suspending the direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and the Queensland capital.
The airline further revealed that its last service to Brisbane would be on 8th August (Saturday).
In a press statement, the airline said:
Malaysia Airlines is undertaking a network rationalisation exercise as part of the national carrier’s 12-point MAS Recovery Plan announced last year. Customers holding tickets to and from the affected routes will be re-accommodated on alternative carriers or be eligible for a refund.
Regarding the cancellation, Brisbane Airport Corporation spokeswoman Leonie Vandeven said they weren’t told that the flights would come to an end as there was simply no warning.
She said:
We were disappointed, and must confess surprised, to read the news that our partnership with Malaysia Airlines spanning some 25 years has ended so suddenly. This is a loss for Queensland and for Malaysian travellers to Queensland. Nonetheless, we wish Malaysia Airlines well and remain committed to the market.
Representing Malaysia Airlines’ Oneworld partner airline Qantas, a spokeswoman said the Australian carrier was “always looking at opportunities” for its network. “However at this time we’re not considering commencing services to Kuala Lumpur,” she added. The decision came just weeks after MAS cancelled their flight routes to Frankfurt, Kunming (China), Krabi (Thailand), and Cochin (India). The direct flights to these countries were suspended because they are seen as unprofitable routes.
Earlier on 1st June (Monday), MAS’ chief executive Christoph Mueller stated the airline is “technically bankrupt”. The disappearance of flight MH370 and the shooting down of flight MH17 proved to be the final straw for the airline, which was already struggling from losses for several years as a result of strong regional competition.
However, the airline is in the midst of a massive operational upheaval and MAS Bhd will take over MAS operations from 1st Sept. MAS’ parent company Khazanah Nasional Bhd also said that the new airline’s network would serve Asean, China, India, and domestic markets, with services to key international destinations in Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Britain and Saudi Arabia. The network would have an expanded reach into Africa, the US and Europe via potential partnerships that are being explored.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
