ASEAN airlines urged to cooperate
ASEAN airlines urged to cooperate
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian Airlines Systems Bhd (MAS)
executive chairman Tajudin Ramli yesterday called for closer
cooperation among ASEAN national carriers to fully tap the
region's tourism industry.
Tajudin said the "limited open sky" policy practiced in the
Southeast Asian region had hindered the development of air
transport, particularly to new destinations within the grouping.
Although the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
offered great potential for tourism and business opportunities,
the airlines "had failed to see them," Tajudin told an ASEAN
tourism conference.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
"Cooperation among ASEAN member countries at the government
level is very close but in the tourism industry, particularly air
transport, it seems they are competing among each other," he
said.
Closer cooperation among airlines in the seven ASEAN countries
would enable the tourism industry to develop faster while
generating spin-off effects in other related areas such as hotels
and restaurants, Tajudin said.
MAS is willing to work with all the other airlines in ASEAN to
supplement and complement the growth of the tourism industry in
the region, he added.
Tajudin also said MAS is now negotiating to take over domestic
aviation firm Pelangi Air Sdn. Bhd. in a move to broaden flights
to new tourist destinations within the country.
Asked when the takeover would be finalized, he said: "It is
now up to Pelangi Air shareholders."
MAS said in November it planned to take over Pelangi Air, in
which it presently holds an 18 percent stake, through its unit
Malaysian Helicopter Services Bhd.
Pelangi Air, which plies domestic routes as well as to
Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, was reported to be
experiencing problems such as the mass exodus of pilots resulting
in the cancellation of 175 flights since Oct. 16.
MAS stock was 10 cents higher at 6.35 ringgit on the local
bourse Tuesday.