Malindo Air to commence operations in March

KOTA KINABALU: Malindo Air (MA), a new Malaysia-based low-cost airline, will soon mark a milestone in the nation’s aviation industry when it launches operations in March 2013.

MA will commence operations with 10 brand new B737-900ER aircraft in a two-class configuration (12 business seats and 168 economy seats), and will be equipped with Wi-Fi and in-flight entertainment.

According to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun, the emergence of MA will halve Malaysia’s problem of unemployed pilots as it has snapped up 175 pilots from a total of 1,600 unemployed pilots in their first round of recruitment.

He said MA will create more jobs and reduce the unemployment rate, not only for pilots but also when it comes to ground staff and engineers.

He was speaking to the media during Malindo Air press conference at a hotel here.

Besides that, MA will focus in giving value for money service by providing competitive and affordable air fares to passengers.

“On behalf of the state government, especially the tourism ministry, this is the best news so far after the elephant tragedy.

“It is one of the ways that can push the industry in Sabah to greater heights, as you know there was a slight drop in domestic tourism and the reason is because of the reduced seat capacity due to downgrading aircrafts used and also the number of reduction in flights in certain sectors,” he said.

Masidi also added that a good connectivity was needed to connect the world to Sabah, and he hoped that MA will play its role to fly domestic passengers and bring more visitors in from Kuala Lumpur.

MA is a joint venture between Indonesian’s Lion Group and Malaysia’s National Aerospace and Defence Industries, managed 100 per cent by Malaysians.

“It will give us more confidence as it is managed by our own people despite the different equity and sharing with Indonesia,” said Masidi.

According to MA Director Commercial, Raja Sekaran, Malindo plans to increase to a fleet size of 10 aircraft this year and has future plans to make Kota Kinabalu as its hub in the east.

He said at the moment, they will focus on domestic routes such asKUL-BKI and KUL-JHR, and will open up many other new routes by looking at the response.

Also present were MA Head of Sales/Distribution, Karen Low and Head of Marketing, Raja Sa’adi.