MAS: No qualms about change

"It's absolutely necessary and you need to change it radically to survive and win in such a tough operating environment," said MAS chief executive officer Datuk Seri Idris Jala after launching the airline's latest initiative dubbed the "MAS Stimulus Package" yesterday in Petaling Jaya.

Idris said sales for MAS' international flights have fallen slightly in line with global trends.

It continues to roll out new deals to cope with falling global passenger demand and boost sales for its first and business class travel. Airlines typically make money on premium travel.

Under the "MAS Stimulus Package", there are nine deals available until December 31 2009 for first, business and economy class travel.
The "Premium Match" deal will see it match the price of a passenger's previous first or businessclass travel on another airline for flights above three hours, either for Asean or international travel.

It is also offering a 50 per cent discount for the second business- class ticket purchased for a domestic, Asean or international flight under its "Business Companion"deal.

Under the seven economy-class deals, a child below 12 years old can travel free for every two adult economy class tickets purchased, while one companion can travel free with the purchase of one economy class ticket. Both deals, "Kids Fly Free" and "MHFlex 1+1", are applicable for domestic and Asean travel only.

Other deals include the "Balik Kampung" fare for weekend domestic flights and "Weekend Getaway" special for Asean flights. The airline is also offering up to 80 per cent discount off domestic and Asean travel booked online.

Two of its deals, which are available since last month, have drawn in sales of more than RM17.5 million.

"This shows that if you give the public what they want, they will travel," Idris said. Seats under the "Balik Kampung" package are sold out for the next two months.

He added that the nine deals are tailored to the size of the customer's wallet and will help stimulate travel demand. "... People are now (also) purchasing their tickets later, as they wait for better deals and prices."

Meanwhile, MAS said its revenue tripled to RM11.7 million from RM3.4 million during the recent Matta Travel Fair, while the MAS Travel Fair in February posted 36 per cent growth to RM95 million in 2009 compared to a year ago.