Malaysia Airlines: Strategic tie-up for haj charter carrier by Q1 2018

SEPANG: Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) expects to finalise its strategic partnership for the haj charter carrier by the first quarter of next year, said its group CEO, Peter Bellew.
Bellew, who was in Saudi Arabia last week, said he had a meeting with potential investors for the new service.
“Somebody came out with a name (for the new carrier) last week when we were in Saudi Arabia. So, I will discuss it with the board over the next few weeks.
“I will not share the name now. Certainly, it is very inspirational,” he told reporters after the launch of MAB’s first in-house innovation lab, called iSpace, at the Flight Management Building of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport here yesterday.
It was reported that MAB planned to start a charter flight service for the haj pilgrimage and umrah in Saudi Arabia.
Bellew said MAB is seeking strategic partners that have existing business relations in the aviation sector.
 “It will take time. We don’t need money to make it happen immediately. However, we are looking for people who have strategic interest in helping this to happen and making it a success in over 10 years.”
Bellew said the new charter airline will be registered as a separate entity and carry a new image, logo, aircraft colour and configuration.
The new airline will create 600 to 700 jobs, including those for pilots, cabin crew and engineers, when it is fully operational and will charter six Airbus A380 jetliners from Malaysia Airlines.
“This airline, in the next 10 to 15 years, will grow beyond six aircraft. This will be a major boost to the county’s aviation industry,” Bellew said.
On the structure of the new airline, he said MAB may not be the ultimate shareholder in the company. – Bernama