MAS needs at least six months to recover - Ahmad Jauhari

Malaysia Airlines chief executive officer (CEO) Ahmad Jauhari Yahya on Monday admitted that the incident of flight MH370 which went missing on March 8 has affected the airline.

However, he said based on the experience of other airlines which have gone through a similar situation, it could take up to six months for MAS to recover.

“This incident has affected the airline. Investigation is still on-going. We have a lot of work to do. The airline needs to get itself together and if you have noticed from the experience of other airlines, it can take them up to six months to recover from the market reputation issue.

“We intend to do that and we intend to do that quickly,” he said during a press conference held at the Royale Chulan Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

Ahmad Jauhari was also asked by a pressman if he would step down as the CEO of the airline following the incident.

“I have work to do here,” he said.

During a press conference on April 1, Ahmad Jauhari admitted that MAS shouldered a heavier burden as compared to its code share partner China Southern Airlines.

However, the Chinese airliner agreed to cooperate with MAS in giving aid to families of passengers of the missing flight.

"We have discussed with China Southern Airlines. As this is our aircraft, the responsibility is more on us. They are only our code share partner,” he said.