KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 ― Malaysia Airlines (MAS) said today that a review of its fleet is being considered in the restructuring plan that has yet to be finalised after reports emerged of the troubled airline selling its Airbus jets.
Local daily The Star reported today an aviation industry site, Leeham News, as saying that MAS is offering to sell or lease all six of the national airline’s Airbus A380s, two Boeing 747-400Fs, four Airbus A330-200Fs and four Boeing 777-200ERs.
“[1/2] Malaysia Airlines seeks to clarify the speculation on it's fleet. We are currently still working to finalise the Business Plan…
[2/2] Exploring fleet options to enhance viability of long haul sectors is one area being looked into,” MAS tweeted today from its official @MAS Twitter handle.
The Star also reported aviation industry site Flightglobal as quoting a MAS official saying that the carrier plans to “approach the market to dispose some assets”.
International newswire Reuters reported last March MAS owner Khazanah Nasional Bhd as saying that MAS is renegotiating contracts, identifying almost a third of staff to lay off, and reviewing its route and fleets as part of the national carrier’s restructuring plan.
MAS is set to appear as a new firm by July 1 and Christoph Mueller, who had turned around Irish airline Aer Lingus Group PLC, has been hired to lead the airline’s successor company, Reuters reported.
MAS has been losing billions over the past few years and the national carrier suffered two plane crashes last year.
