Firefly to remain integral part of MAS

PETALING JAYA : Malaysia Airlines (MAS) said Firefly will remain an integral part of the group and that it remains committed to ensuring the continuation of the community airline’s turboprop operations.

The national carrier was responding to theSun’s report yesterday which had questioned the future of Firefly following the resignation of its managing director on Tuesday.

MAS wishes to put on record that the group strongly believes in the Firefly brand and has on many occasions made dear our intention to maintain Firefly s turboprop operations as an integral part of the group This was in fact reinforced most recently in our statement issued on Wednesday with respect to the appointment of Ignatius Ong Ming Choy as Firefly s new chief operating officer MAS said in a statement late last night.

The group is very committed to ensuring the popular turboprop operations which offer consumers a niche product providing point to point connectivity to up to 18 destinations in Malaysia Singapore Indonesia and Thailand it added.

MAS also said the suggestion that Firefly s turboprop operations offer a second class service was unfair and uncalled for and flies in the face of all the customers served by the airline.

It also said with the implementation of the service segregation strategy Firefly is being expanded through the delivery of new aircraft allowing the airline to diversify the range and frequencies of services offered.

“We have expressed our sincere gratitude to Firefly former MD Datuk Eddy Leong Chin Tung for his dedicated service to the MAS Group and recognise his indisputable success in building such a strong brand and airline it added.

“His departure however does not in any way infer as your report suggests that Firefly’s turboprop operations air services licence or brand are in limbo.”