Report that 250 Boeing 777 pilots forced to quit untrue, says MAS

Malaysia Airlines admits that its rationalisation exercise will have an impact on pilot numbers but denies they are forced to quit. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, December 28, 2015.

Malaysia Airlines has denied a report that its pilots are forced to leave the national carrier, after Malay-language tabloid Kosmo published an article saying 250 of its Boeing 777-ER pilots will lose their jobs next year.

Malaysia Airlines confirmed that its rationalisation exercise would have an impact on its pilots‎, but said they have been offered options, which did not include sacking.

“Malaysia Airlines’ network rationalisation exercise, which saw a reduction in capacity and suspension of flights to selected destinations, will have an impact on pilot requirements. ‎

“The pilots will have a choice of career options, including voluntary secondment to other airlines in Asia or the Middle East, voluntary no-pay long-term leave to pursue other careers or to remain at Malaysia Airlines and await possible long-term vacancies on other aircraft types.  

“The opportunities for secondment to another airline are entirely voluntary for the individual pilot and no 777 pilot has been requested to leave the airline,” the national carrier said in a statement to The Malaysian Insider.‎

Kosmo reported that the pilots would lose their jobs in the wake of Malaysia Airlines Bhd’s decision to stop flying from Kuala Lumpur to Amsterdam, Holland, and Paris, France, beginning January 27.‎

It said some of the affected pilots have been offered voluntary no-pay leave for two years.

The tabloid reported that MAS ended the loss-making flights to the two destinations after inking a deal with Dubai-based Emirates, the world’s biggest international carrier on December 2.

The deal allowed it to sell tickets to more long-haul destinations while scrapping unprofitable routes, Bloomberg reported.

The accord covers more than 90 locations in the United Statets, Europe, the Middle East and Africa served via Emirates’s Gulf hub.

The deal gives the Malaysia Airlines access to Europe without incurring “monumental losses,” chief executive officer Christoph Mueller told Bloomberg.

- TMI