MAS targets 8% growth in RI market

MAS targets 8% growth in RI market

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Malaysia's top carrier, Malaysia Airlines System (MAS), targets
higher revenue and numbers of passengers from its flights serving
Indonesia-Malaysia routes this year.

The company aims to boost revenues by 8 percent from last
year's 169 million ringgit (about US$42 million) and the number
of passengers by 4 percent from about 300,000 last year, MAS area
manager for Indonesia Dzulkefli Zakaria said on Monday.

"Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country, and we
are optimistic to be able to expand our market here," he said at
a media gathering.

MAS serves 76 flights per week for seven destinations in
Indonesia, enjoying an average 70 percent load factor.

Syed Abdillah Azis, MAS regional manager for ASEAN, said that
Indonesia represented the largest contributor to revenues and
numbers of passengers, as compared to those from other countries
in the region.

Azis mentioned that last year's passenger revenue stood at 7.9
billion ringgit, which reflected a 29 percent increase from the
revenue booked a year earlier.

A report from the Malaysian Tourism Board said that more than
80,000 Indonesians had come to Malaysia last year for various
purposes, including business, leisure or tourism, health care and
education.

At present, the carrier holds about 50 percent of Malaysia-
bound flights from Indonesia, Dzulkefli said.

"But the biggest potential market that we haven't managed to
maximize is passengers for umroh (minor haj pilgrimage), with an
estimated potential revenue of 1 billion ringgit," he told The
Jakarta Post.

Moreover -- as stated by the MAS assistant general manager for
advertising, promotions and branding Yazid Mohammed -- most
Indonesians were not yet familiar with the company's brand and
products.

"Indonesia's market is important, but we feel our engagement
with the customers is not enough," he said.

For that purpose, MAS has announced plans to organize the
first Malaysia Airlines Travel Fair (MATF) outside Malaysia at
the Jakarta Convention Center from Sept. 23 to Sept. 25.

The three-day fair is expected to attract some 100,000
visitors and generate 20 million ringgit in revenue. The company
has set aside $1 million to promote the event.

"Three weeks before the event, we will intensify the promotion
of the fair through various media," said Yazid.

Dzulkefli added that the fair would also offer special price
discounts for various travel packages, which would be valid until
May 30 next year. (006)