Malaysia’s Low-Cost Airline Takes Off
Monday, 16/04/2007
Low-cost carrier Firefly, a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, has started commercial operations with ticket prices as low as $2.60. Its first passengers flew out of the island resort of Penang, officials said. Firefly, Malaysia’s second low-cost airline after AirAsia, will use two 50-seater Fokker Friendship aircraft.
Initially, the airline will fly from its base in Penang to the Malaysian cities of Kota Baru, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan and Langkawi. From April 13, the airline will also fly daily to the Thai resort islands of Phuket and Koh Samui.
The airline has offered 2,000 free one-way tickets, and more may be handed out if there is demand, Leong said. Passengers have to pay taxes and surcharges. Normal ticket prices start from $2.60 for national flights and from $10.40 to Thailand.
Firefly is a unit of national carrier Malaysian Airline System Bhd., which has been struggling to make profits while competing with AirAsia for short-haul regional routes. AirAsia, which started in late 2001 and revolutionized air travel in Southeast Asia, services some 15 destinations in Malaysia and about 20 in the region, according to the company’s Web site.
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