Airpearl From Malaysia, joined May 2001, 934 posts, RR: 37 Posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1890 times:
MAS managing director Md Nor Yusof was reported today as saying the airline will not be joining a global airline alliance.
The airline would concentrate on more bilateral agreements with other airlines, code sharing and joint marketing efforts.
Md Nor Yusof said joining an alliance was "no longer the flavour of the day."
Interesting perspective that leaves one wondering if it is MAS that has decided against joining an alliance like Skyteam or is it perhaps the other way round?
AF has for some time been courting TG as a possible Skyteam member. Now that KLM seems to be close to joining, could MAS be left out in the cold with the membership preference for TG and BKK as their SE Asian partner?
Luv2fly From United States of America, joined May 2003, 11957 posts, RR: 51 Reply 1, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1865 times:
Well I am sure there is a financial amount to belong to any alliance and maybe they feel for that money they could do more with it standing alone. It looks like it has not hurt them so far.
Rupertvander82 From France, joined Dec 2002, 411 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 1820 times:
Exacatly. MAS might be concentrating on other aspects than to join an alliance. Remember that Malaysians always have an unconventional way in doing business!
Oh well, think that Thai might do the switch, if Lufthansa didn't make an effort to make them stay. I remembered how horrified Thai was when SQ joined Star.
Airbus Lover From Malaysia, joined Apr 2000, 3248 posts, RR: 10 Reply 3, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 1790 times:
This is rather surprising... hmmm
Well maybe they feel they'd do fine standing alone and saving the $$ to integrate into the other alliances. But then personally I think joining an alliance like Skyteam with NW/KL/CO in it will be very beneficial to MH.
ETA Unknown From Comoros, joined Jun 2001, 2009 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 1736 times:
Read between the lines: the alliances didn't want MH as a member! However, due to the cultural inability to admit this, MH would rather issue a press release saying they'll go it alone, rather than saying nothing.
Ryanair!!! From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4652 posts, RR: 27 Reply 5, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 1729 times:
Md Nor Yusof said joining an alliance was "no longer the flavour of the day."
I seriously doubt the credibility of this statement! In this day and age of alliances, it is definitely more economical to transfer your passenger to an onward journey on that country's airline by code sharing through the latter's hub (your spoke)... rather than sending your own aircraft direct to the intended destination at the expense of passenger loads and yields. Eg KUL-JNB-CPT-EZE.
There is an interesting article in this month's issue of Airways regarding this issue. It contains details regarding the One World Alliance. Several articles ago, they wrote about Star Alliance. In fact, in the March issue of Outlook (SIA's employee publication), the new CEO Chew Choon Seng emphasised the importance of an airline joining an alliance to help each other in the present climate of today's aviation environment. Now is not the time for an individual airline to survive on their own and flying to all corners of the globe economically.
Hence, MAS' stance on this is really puzzling unless they do not have the funds to join one currently. Or they were indeed kicked out of the participating process?? Who knows?
My 5 cents...
Welcome to my starry one world alliance, a team in the sky!
ZSSNC From Germany, joined Feb 2003, 428 posts, RR: 10 Reply 6, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 1715 times:
I think it always depends on the specific circumstances surrounding an airline whether it makes sense for them to join an alliance or not. For some airlines bilateral agreements with other airlines are the better choice, e.g. I think that SAA is much better off with having code-sharing agreements with AF, BD, CX, DL, LY, EK, LH, QF, TG and RG. If SAA joined one of the existing airlines they would lose more passengers than they could possibly gain. I am sure that MH's management has assessed the pros and cons of joining an alliance.
ZSSNC
Airbus A340-600 - the longest temptation in the sky
Mas777 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 1999, 2916 posts, RR: 6 Reply 7, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 1663 times:
Hmm - if indeed this is true - this could spell disaster for MAS and KUL's hub plans. Should TG go to Skyteam - we may see airlines once again pulling out of KUL in favour of BKK - since although you could say MAS will build on the strength of its current code-shares - there will be a distinct LACK of airlines to code-share with in future and current agreements would start expiring.
ETA_Unknown - I doubt the "inability to admit" to things is a concept of Malaysian culture.
Triple Seven From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 526 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 1622 times:
My dearest MAS what in the hell are you doing?!?!?!?!?
MAS needs a new compass to point them directions...they are lost. I am lost for words
Aviasian From Singapore, joined Jan 2001, 1453 posts, RR: 16 Reply 10, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 1602 times:
I share the sentiments of Triple Seven.
Alliances continue to grow and re-invent . . . they have not become worthless, and are not likely for a long while more.
Having an alliance does not mean that the airline cannot code-share or strike up some form of bilateral commercial arrangement with an airline outside of the alliance (or indeed with an airline from a rival alliance).
Polygamy is quite tolerable in aviation!
It remains to be seen how the management of Malaysia Airlines intend to go it alone . . . give it the benefit of the doubt.
WLG-Spotter From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days ago) and read 1546 times:
Well said Triple Seven and Aviasian - can't agree with you guys more!
And to illustrate Aviasian's 3rd paragraph that you could still code-share with an airlines from outside of the alliance or from a rival alliance, one example if Air NZ's domestic feed in Australia. This may not be as "concrete", given NZ is seeking to join forces with QF, but NZ's domectic feed in Australia is performed by QF at the moment - and we'', at the moment, they ARE from rival alliances!
MASkargo From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2003, 181 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 1469 times:
oh my god. what else can i say but 'doh!'
MAS ...just when it seems you are getting your act right, you go and stick your foot in your mouth again. Pull your thumbs out guys....
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