Malaysia Airlines appoints new Managing Director. Airline needs to focus more on rebranding: AirAsia

Malaysia Airlines appointed (14-Sep-2011) Ahmad Jauhari bin Yahya as managing director, effective 19-Sep-2011. [more - original PR]

Meanwhile, AirAsia CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes stated Malaysia Airlines will need to focus more on rebranding as one of the ways for the carrier to turnaround, according to a Bernama report.

Malaysia Airlines System Employees Union secretary-general, Ab Malek Arif stated MAS chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Nor Yusof has given an assurance that the welfare of the carrier's workers will not be affected following the share swap exercise between MAS and AirAsia.

AirAsia: "There's no cost problems in MAS. The problem is revenue (and) if we continue not to brand ourselves, then we may as well allow Etihad, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, (and), Cathay Pacific to be the national carrier in this country. So, if we really want to be a global leader and have a brand that is globally recognised, you have to invest. I think put in the right management in place, put in the right model in place, focus model." CEO, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes. Source: Bernama, 14-Sep-2011.