Short Takes
AIRLINES
February 21st 2020
NEW FARES: Malaysia Airlines has expanded its unbundled economy fare types to ASEAN and South Asia routes. Read More » The airline's new fare structure was first introduced on Malaysia Airlines' domestic flights in 2019 and comprised Lite, Basic and Flex fare types. The most restrictive Lite fares did not include check-in baggage, while Basic fares offered 20kg of check-in baggage and were upgradeable. Flex had a 30kg check in luggage allowance and allowed travellers to take an earlier flight subject to availability. "I believe the fares we introduce today will create a more personalized and enjoyable booking experience coupled with unrivalled Malaysian Hospitality onboard, to create truly seamless, intuitive and stress-free travels to be enjoyed by our loyal passengers,” Malaysia Airlines group chief executive, Captain Izham Ismail, said in a statement this week.
SPICEJET RECEIVES A320: SpiceJet has taken two A320 aircraft on wet lease from BH Air, a Bulgarian-registered airline based in Sofia. The airline said this week the aircraft had been inducted after seeking regulatory approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The airline's fleet consists of 737s and and De Havilland Q400 turboprops. It also has 14 737 MAX 8s in storage.
QANTAS TO INITIATE NARROW-BODY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS THIS YEAR. Qantas chief financial officer, Vanessa Hudson, said the airline group still intends to launch a request for proposal (RFP) for the replacement of its narrow-body fleet some time in 2020. The RFP was expected to cover Qantas's 737-800, 717 and Fokker 100 fleet. "We are really looking forward to working with Boeing and Airbus over the coming year to create those plans for us in the domestic market for fleet replacement," Hudson told reporters this week. Qantas also remains interested in Boeing's mooted but yet-to-launch new mid-market airplane (NMA).
