Firefly
Flies to Phuket also from Penang.
2,000 free seats to mark start of operations
By NIK KHUSAIRI IBRAHIM
PENANG: Malaysia’s first community airline, Firefly, is offering 2,000 free seats next month when it starts operations on April 2.
Travellers can start booking for seats from tomorrow through Malaysia Airlines’ 24-hour call centre (1-300-88-3000).
Bookings can also be made at MAS ticketing offices here, in Kuala Lumpur, KL International Airport, Kota Baru, Terengganu, Kuantan and Langkawi.
Firefly managing director Eddy Leong said the public could also make bookings through the airline’s website
Firefly from the middle of May.
“We are offering 14 flights per week from Penang to Kota Baru, Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, Langkawi. There are also seven flights per week to Phuket and Koh Samui (both in Thailand),” he told a press briefing here yesterday.
Firefly, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MAS, has made Penang its hub and will initially be using two 50-seater Fokker 50 aircraft.
Leong said the new company was leveraging on MAS’ operational expertise as well as its infrastructure in engineering, maintenance, ground handling, flight operations, planning and control.
MAS managing director and chief executive officer Idris Jala said he had handpicked Leong to lead Firefly because of his experience as an assistant general manager in MAS.
“We expect Firefly would boost our revenue and help us meet our net profit of RM500mil next year,” he said.
At a function to unveil the Firefly logo, Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said MAS’ performance had been remarkable and that Firefly should also be able to perform as well.
“I am confident Firefly will do well since it would be servicing the IMT-GT (Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle),” he said.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the state government was willing to discuss with MAS on providing more destinations.
Among the destinations that could be considered were Medan, Aceh and Padang in Indonesia, he said.