It's Firefly
February 25, when Screenshots first surfaced Firefly as the name of a new local carrier operating off Penang, not many took note of it.
FLASHBACK: Screenshots, February 25, 2007
When Screenshots repeated the name more specifically on February 27, the news still went over many heads.
In the blog entry titled: Voila, Idris Jala!, Screenshots said: "Well done, Idris! Hope FireFly is coming out soon though The Star, trailing Screenshots, is hinting at Asmara Air.
Finally, The Star ran this today, quoting Idris Jala and confirming Firefly will start its niche-market operations to six initial routes from April 2:
It must be noted too, the 2005 plan by the Ministry of Transport to turn the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport in Ipoh as a hub for low fare flights for domestic and south East Asia flights has failed.
Prior to that, AirAsia has made Johor Bahru as its hub in December 2003 for east-bound flights to East Malaysia and Indonesia. In January 2006, AirAsia announced that it was to launch flights to Ipoh, Tawau, Kota Bharu and Sandakan from its hub in Johor Bahru, but service for the Ipoh-JB sector has since been terminated in August last year.
Now, let's assume that someone, who 'has no problem with money', will surface to operate the low cost terminal in Penang, perhaps independent of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), to promote Penang as the country’s hub for low-cost carriers in the northern region.
Asmara Air, with the IGP's brother Fuad Hassan as the the chairman of the chartered-flight operator, is not expected to fly any time soon.
Comments
Hahahahahahaha, at first I though MAS are serious.
Until I see the fokker 50. It is not about the technology, but the total seats available.
If AirAsia doing the same in Day 1, Tony Fernandes will never make the fuel and passenger turnover. No matter how cheap the price of buying Fokker 50, it can never compete with the average cost per passenger.
And not to forget, when AirAsia 130-150 seating plane on the air, they get twice the income, by having 50% less airplane than firefly.
IMHO, this firefly is no different than typical MAS operating mindset.
I still think if MAS run by Tony Fernandes, it will make MAS better.
Posted by: moo_t![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
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March 16, 2007 10:40 AM
Hi Moo_T or is it Moorthy?
LOL...
Think again. Tony Fernandes
not Tony Bin Fernandes....
Will never be able to head NATIONAL AIRLINE.
I am proposing a takeover of a company, mired in RM2million debt....and their first question?
If the parties behind you are [ DELETED -- racist remarks ], we are not interested!
How lah to boleh?
Posted by: alliedmartster![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
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March 16, 2007 01:56 PM
instead of competing with other global big boys they go after airasia...very funny decision.
it is either they really losing money to airasia or they have no idea of how to compete with big boys.
tak sekolah punya budak buat decision
Posted by: rosman![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
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March 16, 2007 07:38 PM
When MAS was operating the domestic routes they were making losses. Now making some money and before MAS financial position is stable... Now the nonsense FIREFLY... Another bailout in the near future????.... Why don't they stick to the "core" business instead of going into something which is so competitive... In low cost airlines, we talk about efficiency and productivity... Can FIREFLY do that... If they can, the management of MAS should apply them in MAS instead of wasting their time on two miserable Foker
Posted by: AverageJoe![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
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March 16, 2007 07:41 PM
Hah. I thought they wanted to clean up their act? What is the difference between firefly and the old way?
Budget airline needs people with do-or-die attitude. Not people who are so comfy with bailouts!
Posted by: hasilox![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
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March 16, 2007 09:12 PM
Talking about Fokkers, here's an old story:
A German and an American found themselves shipwrecked and sitting on a makeshift raft in the middle of the ocean. Just then an airplane flew by, and the German exclaimed, "Hey, that's a Fokker Friendship."
The American growled, "We ain't interested in your f**king friendship, we just wanna be f**king rescued!!!"
Posted by: LC Teh![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
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March 18, 2007 04:54 PM
Jeff
the comapny is known as Firefly
but oddly enough the official website is known as - http://www.fireflyz.com.my/
with a Z
z - usually signifies sleeping
even the website is NOT properly named
Posted by: zaizu![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
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March 18, 2007 08:04 PM
The introduction of turboprop aircraft to service smaller market segments/smaller towns is long overdue.
There should be similar service for Ipoh to KLIA and Senai, Kuantan to KLIA and senai. Firefly's idea to fly from Penang to all the major tourist spots in southern Thailand is brilliant but they have left out Krabi and bandar Aceh(a superb surfing paradise before the tsunami) and Lake Toba.
Licenses to operate airlines and other businesses such as radio stations/buses should be given to local businessmen in these smaller towns/cities instead of the big guys living in KL. Centralisation is bad for local businesses and efficiency. Indonesia is an example of centralisation that has failed as all major development is concentrated in just one city-jakarta.(same with thailand)
Posted by: sydput![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
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March 19, 2007 08:49 AM