MAS perlu sertai Jalinan Rangkaian

Dalam dunia penerbangan adalah sukar untuk berjaya jika berseorangan kerana pelanggan mahukan kemudahan menempah dan terbang dalam satu jalinan rangkaian (connecting flights).

Empat syarikat penerbangan besar sudah tidak mahu terbang ke KLIA. ANA, British Airways, Qantas and Lufthansa sudah menghentikan operasi ke KLIA - satu projek wawasan Mahathir yang dibuka pada pertengahan 1998 itu. KLIA hanya mampu menarik minat 41 syarikat penerbangan tetapi Changi dapat menampung 68 buah syarikat banyaknya.

Menurut analis, syarikat tersebut tidak mahu ke KLIA kerana mereka sudah mempunyai jalinan sambungan ke Bangkok dan Singapura. Ada tiga jalinan antarabangsa iaitu Qualiflyer, oneworld dan Star Alliance tetapi MAS masih tidak berbuat apa-apa. MAS kelihatan berharap kepada penurunan kadar cukai pendaratan (selepas tengah malam) dan peningkatan mutu perkhidmatan sebagai pelaris.

Qualiflyer diketuai oleh SwissAir, manakal oneworld oleh British Airways, Qantas dan American Airlines. Star Alliance pula adalah kerjasama Singapore Airlines dan Thai Airways.

-Reme Ahmad-

KOMEN

Masalah sebenar adalah KLIA terlalu dekat dengan Singapura dan Bangkok - sebagaimana yang diutarakan oleh En Gan Kim Khoon, seorang ketua kajian di syarikat Arab-Malaysian Securities. Besar dan canggih sahaja bukan penentu untuk memajukan industri penerbangan - sebaliknya industri sokongan (seperti kedai tarikkan berdekatan dan jalinan) lebih diperlukan. Ramai pelancung yang merasa bosan berada berada di KLIA walaupun ia penuh dengan cermin yang tidak menghalang pandangan kerana tidak ada apa yang hendak dipandang! Kaca tv pula tidak mempamirkan sesuatu yang boleh menghilangkan bosan - sebaliknya ia membuatkan mereka merasa semakin lama menunggu sesuatu yang mendatang.

Sebenarnya bukan senibina kejuruteraan sahaja yang menjadi ukuran tetapi kejuruteraan kemesraan dan kecekapan serta ciri-ciri mesra manusia (human engineering) yang kita begitu ketinggalan. Pelancung mahukan kedamaian sebab itulah ramai antara mereka tinggal lama di desa dan pantai dari berpelseran di bandar kerana itu tujuan sebenar mereka menggembara - mahu menimba pengalaman dan ketenangan yang sukar dilupakan.

-TJR Kapal Berita-

Source: The Singapore Straits Times
9th March 2001

Malaysia Airlines urged to join alliance

Such a move 'could stop pullouts from KL airport'

By Reme Ahmad

IN KUALA LUMPUR

THE Malaysian authorities are seeking a short-cut path to becoming a regional aviation hub following the pullout of four international airlines from Kuala Lumpur.

Transport analysts say Malaysia Airlines (MAS) could reverse the outflow of big carriers by joining an international airline alliance.

The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), located between the regional hubs of Singapore and Bangkok, must also provide more attractive landing incentives to neutralise the advantages enjoyed by its two competitors, they say.

Japan's second biggest airline, ANA, dealt the most recent blow to KLIA's ambitions when it announced it would stop commercial services to the airport from March 24, citing losses on the Kansai-KL route.

ANA is the fourth airline to withdraw since KLIA opened in mid-1998, following British Airways, Qantas and Lufthansa.

'The problem is we are the closest to Singapore and Bangkok, the two biggest hubs in South-east Asia,' said Mr Gan Kim Khoon, research chief at Arab-Malaysian Securities.

'But we can try to attract other airlines to stop here and get connecting flights just like Singapore through the alliances.'

Government officials have put on a brave face to explain the ANA pullout, which will leave KLIA with 41 airlines. Singapore's Changi Airport serves 68 airlines.

Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Datuk Kadir Sheikh Fadzir said: 'Initial studies had revealed that there were no problems with KLIA or MAS, and that these airlines were facing internal problems.'

But an airline industry official said: 'Airlines are not going to Kuala Lumpur when they have alliances which provide connectivity to Singapore and Bangkok. MAS has to join an alliance.'

The three main airline groups are Qualiflyer, oneworld and Star Alliance. The groupings allow an airline to sell seats on another member, boosting convenience and connecting flights.

Alliance members are also encouraged to start new flights into each other's home airports, analysts say.

Qualiflyer is led by SwissAir, while oneworld includes British Airways, Qantas and American Airlines. The Star Alliance includes Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways.

Malaysia Airlines had considered joining an alliance but had not signed any agreement so far, said a MAS executive.

But he said improved services at KLIA, such as lower landing charges after midnight, would bring in more players than by MAS joining a grouping.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg