Five Minutes with… Germal Khera, Senior VP International Affairs for Malaysia Airlines
Ahead of this year’s event we grabbed a few quick words with Germal Khera, Senior VP International Affairs of Asian flag carrier Malaysia Airlines…
Q) Which trends will impact the industry most in the coming years and why?
A) Full service carriers are looking at transforming their businesses to achieve lower operating cost. Ancillary services such as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), cargo, information technology services and training will be further developed and expanded to boost revenue. Airlines are also taking advantage of the internet and social media to boost revenue. Flight bookings on the Facebook application and mobile phone, ipad kiosk and augmented reality application for iphone, to name a few, have been the highlights of new innovation and technology.
Q) Where do you see your organisation in ten years time?
A) By 2015, Malaysia Airlines aims to be the ‘Number One’ airline in Asia. To achieve this aim, the group has placed orders for up to 55 Boeing 737-800s, 15 Airbus A330-300s, six A380s and 17 ATRs. By the time all the new aircraft are delivered in 2015, Malaysia Airlines will once again have one of the youngest fleet. Recently, we have exercised our purchase rights for 10 Next-Generation 737-800s. With these new acquisitions we expect a leaner and stronger Malaysia Airlines. Also, when Malaysia Airlines becomes part of oneworld next year, its customers will gain access to the alliance’s truly global network.
Q) How does route development influence the future strategies of your organisation?
A) Our new aircraft will be positioned to serve growing markets of Australia, South Asia, China, North Asia and Middle East. We are also leveraging on the strategic location of our second international hub in Kota Kinabalu as an ideal gateway to promote travels to and from Australia, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Korea.
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