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AP/Press Association Images

Malaysia Airlines to fire 6,000 workers and set up new company

That’s nearly one third of the workforce.

MALAYSIA AIRLINES IS set to fire 6,000 staff in a major restructuring of the company, as it struggles to recover from the loss of two jetliners in March and July.

The wholesale redundancies amount to almost one third of the stricken airline’s 20,000-strong workforce, and is more severe than had been expected by industry experts.

Furthermore, a new company is set to be established, that will take over the existing Malaysia Airlines business and its reduced staff.

Khazanah Nasional, the state investment company that owns 69% of Malaysia Airlines, announced the drastic measures today.

Malaysia Airlines Overhaul AP AP

The radical overhaul will cost about 6 billion ringgit (€1.4 billion), and the Malaysian government will also buy out the remaining 31% – making the air carrier 100% state-owned.

At a press conference today, Khazanah also announced it had begun looking for a new CEO, to replace Ahmad Jauhari Yahya by the end of this year.

“The combination of measures announced today will enable our national airline to be revived,” said Khazanah managing director Azman Mokhtar.

The new incarnation of Malaysia Airlines is set to be established by July 2015.

Malaysia Airlines Overhaul AP AP

The national airline had already been undergoing severe losses for several years before the disappearance of Flight 370 and its 239 passengers and staff in March.

That was followed by the deaths of 298 people when MH17 was shot down by pro-Russian separatists over eastern Ukraine in July.

Second-quarter financial reports released yesterday showed that Malaysia Airlines’ net loss between April and June this year had widened to 307 million ringgit (€74 million), up from 176 million ringgit (€42 million) for the same period in 2013.

Significantly, those figures do not take into account further inevitable losses accruing after the shooting down of Flight MH17, which occurred on 17 July.

The tragedies have scarred the airline’s brand, once associated with high-quality service.

Travelers on recent long-haul flights have posted photos on social media of nearly empty cabins and departure lounges.

The airline says passengers fell 11 percent in July from the year before.

Contains reporting from the Associated Press.

Read: Troubled Malaysia Airlines shares suspended as it prepares to go private>

Search for remains of MH17 flight victims called off>

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41 Comments
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    Mute John Fagan
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    May 26th 2023, 4:45 PM

    Will management be working a seven day roster? I doubt that very much.

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    Mute Mary Conneely
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    May 27th 2023, 12:06 AM

    @John Fagan: they already are.

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    Mute Barbara Coleman
    Favourite Barbara Coleman
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    May 27th 2023, 12:13 PM

    @John Fagan: well if Irish Rail, Dublin Bus already do this – I don’t see why something as important as hospitals don’t do it. Many a bed was taken up by patients who couldn’t go home because the doctor / consultant wasn’t working week ends !

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    Mute Tilal Moore
    Favourite Tilal Moore
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    May 26th 2023, 4:23 PM

    We havent enough staff to cover 5 days. Solution: make them cover 7 days?
    BTW staff always do emergency cover

    199
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    Mute S
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    May 26th 2023, 5:02 PM

    HSE staff are already burnt out. EDs are overflowing with overcrowding normally seen at the height of winter not late Spring/early Summer. I’m not sure what the answer is but it’s not this

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    Mute Mary Walshe
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    May 26th 2023, 7:46 PM

    @S: More home based services for the elderly would be a start. Too many elderly people who are not sick per se, clogging up hospital beds. Pay the carers a decent wage and free up the hospital system. The country never had so much money at its disposal so I can’t see the problem with it.

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    Mute S
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    May 26th 2023, 8:32 PM

    @Mary Walshe: completely agree with you on that. Plus once in the hospitals the medical team order scans and tests that are nearly always not needed, are invasive, uncomfortable, scary and can cause more problems than they can diagnose (eg kidney damage from dye).

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    Mute Gerry Kelly
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    May 26th 2023, 5:15 PM

    Would it not be easier for the govt/HSE to make it illegal for anyone to get sick/have an accident/ have a heart attack/ deliver a baby between Friday afternoon & Monday morning ???

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    Mute Darren Mc Mahon
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    May 26th 2023, 4:13 PM

    Because it makes sense in theory. The reality will be a tricky one.

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    Mute Denis Rathsallagh Brady
    Favourite Denis Rathsallagh Brady
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    May 27th 2023, 2:45 AM

    Try making an appointment with your GP say for a dislocated elbow. I was given a 9 day away appointment. 9 days!
    Told me to go to a hospital if i want to be seen quickly. I asked why its takes so long to get an appointment, her reply : covid.
    This country is ruined by FFG, ruined.

    33
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