Smooth first-day operations of MAB

Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB), which has taken over from Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) as the national carrier, had a smooth first-day operations on Tuesday.

Bernama observed that at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), the passsengers themselves were unaware that the national airline company is now a new entity.

The Malaysia Airlines logo still appeared on the screens at KLIA and the uniforms won by the staff were still the same.

Terence Reed who was accompanying his wife to Penang said he chose to fly with MAB as he was used to it.

"My wife who operates a travel agency is also used to dealing with Malaysia Airlines," said the Briton.

A government pensioner who did not wish to be identified, said whether it was called MAS or MAB, the national carrier had always been his choice for air travel.

"We still choose MAB as we are comfortable with the service," said the retiree who bought air tickets as a present for his son and daughter-in-law to spend their honeymoon in Bali, Indonesia.

An MAB employee at the registration counter said there was increased workload for him now due to the airline's reduced number of employees from 20,000 to 14,000.

"The increased workload is especially so during the school holidays and public holidays until we have to ask other staff to help out.

"But we need to sacrifice for the sake of ours and the company's future," he said.

According to him, MAB chief executive officer, Christoph Mueller was always on the ground monitoring the work of the staff and the airline's handling operations.

The retrenchment of 6,000 staff was a drastic action undertaken by MAB in its restructuring of Malaysia Airlines, besides the routes rationalisation and renegotiating of the supply contracts.

These measures are part of MAB's recovery plan after the government had spent RM19.2 billion between 2001 and 2014, to save Malaysia Airlines due to the failure of its privatisation in the 1990s.