MAS is not shutting down - CEO

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has refuted rumours that it will shut down its operation on May 28.

In a statement, the national carrier said the articles reporting the shutdown were written based on quotes from unofficial sources and have eventually caused anxiety amongst its passengers.

"Despite the rumours, we maintain our commitment to remain competitive, with greater marketing push.

"For example, the current Malaysia Airlines Travel Fair (MATF) allows travelers to purchase our tickets at 50 percent off for immediate travel until Dec 31, 2014.

"We are running business as usual, and passengers should not worry,” said MAS CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya.

It was reported that the net loss widened in the first quarter ended March 31, 2014 to RM443.39 million from a loss of RM278.83 million in the same period last year.

MAS had attributed the unexpected loss to pressure on yields, underperforming non-core activities and negative sentiments, despite commendable traffic growth and cost-saving efforts.