Malaysia Airlines to join Oneworld alliance

[samh004]

I would love it if MAS keeps their lounges in Australia but it wouldn't surprise me if they gave up their loung and moved into the QF one. Mind you, SQ kept their lounge when they could have shunted their passengers into the NZ lounge...

I'd imagine QF might need to find some space to expand if any more airlines start using their facilities, especially at BNE/SYD. Not been to MEL INT QP yet.

As for SQ not using NZ's lounge, perhaps the other way around would be more appropriate, considering their relative sizes, despite the location of NZ, only just being closer.

 

[MH_fan]

The MH lounge at MEL is seriously underwhelming; I think they'd be doing their pax a massive favour by using the QF lounges instead..

I've never used the MH lounge in MEL but I can say that the QF business lounge there is terrible!

 

[yeldarb8]

MH to London via KUL is going to KILL QUNTAS to London

Yahoo. Can't wait. MH business class is miles ahead of QF and tickets are a fraction of the cost. MH via KUL or CX via HKG... both great stopover points. No more boring as bat cough Singapore layovers.

 

[Timba-Jet]

I'd imagine QF might need to find some space to expand if any more airlines start using their facilities, especially at BNE/SYD. Not been to MEL INT QP yet.

SYD Int J lounge is already near capacity before the afternoon QF n BA flights to SIN/BKK, Add in MH and it could be on for young and old to get a comfy seat.

Interesting CX uses QF lounge in SYD but operates it's own lounge in MEL?

 

[Danger]

Air Asia tipped to 'rescue' Malaysia Airlines | Flight Centric News | FC News | Flight Centric

 

[MH_fan]

Air Asia tipped to 'rescue' Malaysia Airlines | Flight Centric News | FC News | Flight Centric

Where the hell did that come from??? That was a bit random... I don't believe it.

 

[straitman]

Where the hell did that come from??? That was a bit random... I don't believe it.

At the risk of sounding condescending, did you read the information from the link :?:

That explains where it came from.

 

[Ric]

Actually reported in malaysian news mid last week.

 

[Timba-Jet]

Very interesting. Just shows what a small world the aviation industry is. Consolidation, mergers, takeovers, alliances....

 

[MH_fan]

At the risk of sounding condescending, did you read the information from the link :?:

That explains where it came from.

Of course that story came from that. I did read the link. I meant this share swap. It literally came out of nowhere! It was obviously a well-kept secret!

 

[john w]

Guys - great - was good when they were an ansett partner (back in the bad old days) - better service than QF

 

[Danger]

A week after the major QF announcement, MH responds with negative news.

A link to this article has just been posted on Flyertalk where MH suggests it may delay entry to oneworld. The article includes these, not altogether surprising, statements:

It is understood that a cause of concern is MAS’ sponsor to join oneworld, Qantas, which recently announced it wants to set up two new airlines in Asia with part of its US$9 billion (RM26.81 billion) plane order from Airbus in order to salvage its loss-making international business.

. . .

“MAS is going to be a premium airline and if Qantas goes ahead with its plans, there will be competition. An alliance might not work then, apart from the costs of meeting the alliance’s standards,” the source said.
​

 

[Vinny]

A week after the major QF announcement, MH responds with negative news.

I could see this happening with the speculation due to lack of details on AJ's new Qantasia or whatever. Base according to speculation SIN of KUL. Perhaps if Joyce was more upfront and willing to communicate MH would have by now be a more willing OW partner.

I don't blame them at all.

 

[oz_mark]

I could see this happening with the speculation due to lack of details on AJ's new Qantasia or whatever. Base according to speculation SIN of KUL. Perhaps if Joyce was more upfront and willing to communicate MH would have by now be a more willing OW partner.

I don't blame them at all.

While I understand what you are saying, you also need to read things in the context of the significant shift in power and control that has taken place in Malaysia Airlines in the last two weeks as well. It might also be worth noting that MAS itself had been looking at options for a new regional premium offering.

 

[richie9x]

Maybe this is a bit far fetched, but one thing that has been running through my mind is - Qantas might be going to buy a stake in MAS.

With Tune Group getting a 20.5% stake, is that setting up for Qantas to buy 39.5% of the MAS and 40% to be retained by the Malaysian government. This is a common ownership scenario for airlines, so the foreigners don't have total ownership of the airline, but no one entity has a majority.

Then either Qantas could have MAS as their premium airline or if they setup a new airline it would be better received. And setting up an airline from scratch can take a lot of time, while buying into an existing one is much quicker. It makes sense in that Qantas and MAS pretty much fly the same types of planes.

 

[oz_mark]

...and now a report saying Malaysia Airlines is confirming its entry

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 — Flag carrier Malaysia Airlines (MAS) confirmed today it would proceed to join the oneworld alliance by the middle of 2012 and will review its product offerings in the new A380 and A330 to ensure “best in class” service as part of its drive to be a premium airline.

The loss-making airline said it “is hopeful that the oneworld alliance membership can materialise within the first half of next year, and would coincide with the introduction into service of its flagship A380 aircraft” in response to The Malaysian Insider’s report on August 23 that it was considering delaying both due to cost issues.

MAS now confirms alliance, A380 arrival - The Malaysian Insider

 

[anat0l]

...and now a report saying Malaysia Airlines is confirming its entry

MAS now confirms alliance, A380 arrival - The Malaysian Insider

The middle of 2012 seems almost too fast to be true. Air Berlin showed more commitment than MH (as far as the initial press conference could tell) to join oneworld "fast" and they looked at a far more conservative time frame. What's the deal here?

 

[futaris]

I think it has something to do with Malaysian Airlines using/owning Abacus reservation systems, and Cathay Pacific already uses it.

 

[richie9x]

Something interesting I found Firefly to only run turboprop planes | theSundaily

Malaysia airlines Firefly subsidiary getting rid of its 737s and becoming turbo prop only. But the interesting part "Our resources will be used to start a new full-service regional airline named Sapphire,"

And if I recall correctly another airline boss was talking about starting up a new full-service airline in Asia (possibly in Malaysia).

 

[JohnK]

MH joining Oneworld could be a good move if in fact it does go ahead.