Turboprop operator Firefly could revive plans to bring jets back to its fleet, says its chief executive officer Ignatius Ong.
He adds that the carrier will definitely consider going back to jet operations but is currently working with MAS to decide on the best strategy for the whole group.
Firefly had briefly operated Boeing 737s but its parent Malaysia Airlines (MAS) took over last year as part of a plan to "realign the group's businesses".
The decision came after a share swap agreement made with AirAsia last August to stop almost 10 years of acrimonious competition. The deal, however, was terminated in April this year.
There have also been talks to convert Firefly into a true low-cost carrier to take on competition in the market segment, but any decision will only be made after MAS returns to profitability, says Ong.
Firefly, which operates a fleet of 12 ATR72-500s from its bases in Subang and Penang, will focus on growing its network and increasing its load factor for now.
Ong's aim is for the carrier's load factor to hit 95%. He hopes that the carrier will dominate short-haul point-to-point routes popular with businessmen and tourists. It launched new services on the Kota Bahru-Singapore and Penang-Koh Samui routes this month, and is also increasing frequencies on several others.
He believes there is room to grow in Malaysia, especially in Johor, where the Iskandar development project is expected to bring much traffic with it. When asked about competitors like AirAsia, Ong says Firefly offers "a different product proposition".
He adds: "Malaysia has a population of 27 million. We can accommodate a couple more airlines if we need to. We will face up to the challenge."
The carrier is keen to be a launch customer for ATR's new generation 90-seater turboprop, which is still in works, and is in talks with the manufacturer now.
"We'll need to make an order within the next two to three years. The larger aircraft will also allow us to add capacity without adding frequency, which is good for services to destinations like Singapore where slots are limited," says Ong.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
