MALAYSIA AIRLINES EYES FIVE PER CENT ANNUAL GROWTH REVENUE FROM CHARTER SERVICES

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines (MAS) expects a five
per cent annual growth in revenue from charter services due to high demand
and the availability of resources, its Head of Hajj and Charter Department,
Captain Nik Ahmad Huzlan Nik Hussain said.

Last year, MAS recorded about RM200 million (US$62.6 million) (US$1=RM3.19)
in revenue from its charter flights, including hajj services.

"The charter flight business is very much a side business for MAS. We only
pursue it whenever there is a request," he told reporters on the sidelines after
a signing ceremony between MAS and travel agency, Apple Vacations & Conventions,
here Wednesday.

Under a RM2.0 million (US$626,027) contract, Apple Vacations would use MAS'
A330-300 aircraft to facilitate three direct charter flights between Kuala
Lumpur and Hokkaido, Japan, in December this year.

Nik Ahmad Huzlan said the national airline saw increasing demand for charter
services, especially, for high-end travelers and special initiatives like
peacekeeping missions and critical auto parts freight.

"The charter services are not exclusive to any individual. We also cater to
corporate customers. We have received a lot of applications from inviduals as
well as organisations.

"Our charter flights are especially for places that are difficult to get to
and which other airlines refuse to service," he explained.

He said MAS' charter services for both passenger and freight movement is
well known and much sought after by the government, associations and world
renowned sports bodies like the English Premier League (EPL) and Formula One
(F1).

MAS handles about 300 charter flights for hajj services annually and between
500 and 600 flights for the same period for other travellers and on special
request.

On the deal with Apple Vacations, Nik Ahmad Huzlan said MAS is looking
forward to working closely with the company and hoped the relationship will
continue into the future.

"This is our first charter service with a travel agency and we are looking
to collaborate with others as well," he added.

He noted that the collaboration with Apple Vacations would enable MAS to
attract tourists from Hokkaido to Malaysia, as currently there is no direct
service between the city and Kuala Lumpur.

The direct charter flights on MAS would help reduce travel time by a
whopping 60 per cent. This leaves holiday-makers with more time to spend in
Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA



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