Malaysia Airlines can learn from AirAsia, says Dr M

SUBANG JAYA: Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) can learn from its closest competitor AirAsia on how to manage airlines, said former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pix).
The veteran statesman said AirAsia, despite being a low-cost carrier, was able to soar upwards as opposed to the troubled national carrier.
"A lot of people may not be happy if AirAsia joins MAB but we can learn something from AirAsia - gain knowledge and how to reap profit," he said, adding that if they work together, complement each other and do not compete, the chances for MAB to recover would be much better.
Speaking at a dialogue session titled "The Missing Force" at Holiday Villa Hotel here today, Dr Mahathir said he still could not believe how AirAsia, under the leadership of Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, managed to sustain despite its low operation cost.
"How did AirAsia manage to give out free seats and comparable low flight ticket price? Running an aircraft is not cheap. It is very closely," he said.
"But I believe that whatever that we do. We can do it in a lower cost," he added.
Dr Mahathir added that he would raise his hat to MAB if it could follow the steps taken by AirAsia, charging low but still emerged profitable.
Meanwhile, National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) president Ismail Nasaruddin said MAB has been going through a dark period, including the retrenchment of 6,000 of its staff to save the company which was bogged down with financial issues.
Although the carrier has gone through change of name, he added, the employers are still the same, thus there is no difference.
"I am saddened by the way the airline was managed that caused a lot of losses," said Ismail.