History of Malaysia Airlines

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This is a timeline of the history of Malaysia Airlines including the history of its predecessor companies which influence its shape today.

Contents 1 1930s 2 1940s 3 1950s 4 1960s 5 1970s 6 1980s 7 1990s 8 2000s 9 References 10 External links

[edit] 1930s

• 1937
  • 12 October - A joint initiative of the Ocean Steamship Company of Liverpool, the Straits Steamship Company of Singapore and Imperial Airways led to a proposal to the government of the Colonial Straits Settlement to run an air service between Penang and Singapore. The result was the incorporation of Malayan Airways Limited (MAL).

[edit] 1940s

• 1947
  • 2 April - The first fare paying passengers boarded an MAL Airspeed Consul plane in Singapore bound for Kuala Lumpur.
• 1948
  • MAL broke the borders of domestic service to offer flights to Jakarta, Medan, Palembang and Saigon.
  • British Overseas Airways (BOAC) facilitated MAL's entry as a member of International Air Transport Association (IATA).
  • Services on the five-seater Airspeed Consul were further enhanced by the acquisition of a 21-seater DC3. The DC3 also heralded the advent of in-flight service in MAL.

[edit] 1950s

• 1958
  • MAL became a public limited company with the participation of BOAC, QANTAS, the government of the Federation of Malaya, Singapore and the Territory of North Borneo.
  • MAL acquired five more Beaver aircraft and a new Douglas DC4 Skymaster, which went on to pioneer a route to Hong Kong. This was MAL's first flight beyond Southeast Asia.
• 1959
  • MAL entered the jet age with the purchase of the Vickers Viscount aircraft.

[edit] 1960s

• 1960
  • MAL had taken possession of a Lockheed Super Constellation, which propelled MAL into other far-flung regions of Asia.
  • The acquisition of an 82-seater Briston Britania in 1960 made mass transport by air a reality. This led to the first international non-stop service for MAL, which operated directly between Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong.
• 1963
  • Malayan Airways Limited was renamed Malaysian Airways Limited (MAL), when the Federation of Malaysia was formed.
  • The governments of Borneo and the Peninsular saw a need for more integration of the nation's transport system. This led to the union of Borneo Airways with MAL that same year. This resulted in closer ties being forged, and also further fleet expansion with the acquisition of five F27 aircraft.
• 1966
  • The Governments of Malaysia and Singapore became the majority shareholders in the national carrier.
• 1967
  • MAL had grown from a single aircraft operator into a company with 2,400 employees and a fleet operator using the latest Comet IV jet aircraft, six F27s, eight DCs and two Twin Pioneers.
  • Malaysian Airways Limited changing its name to Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA). That proved to be a watershed year -- apart from expanding its international routes to Manila, Perth, Sydney and Taipei, MSA also took delivery of three pioneering Boeing 707s and two F27s to service these new routes and finally set up its new corporate headquarters in Robinson Road, Singapore.
• 1968
  • MSA made its first flight to Tokyo.
• 1969
  • MSA started serving Bali.

[edit] 1970s

• 1970
  • Madras and Colombo were added to the list of international destinations.
• 1971
  • The partnership between Malaysia and Singapore was dissolved and Malaysia Airlines Berhad was incorporated in April that same year. With an authorised capital of RM100 million, the company made a final revision to its name in November 1971 and Malaysian Airline System Berhad (MAS) was born. See : Malaysia-Singapore Airlines
• 1972
  • Malaysian Airline System was already servicing 34 domestic routes and six international destinations.
  • November - Malaysian Airline System became a member of the Orient Airlines Association (OAA) after the 13th Presidential Assembly of the OAA in Sydney, Australia.
• 1973
  • May - the Company’s rapid growth saw it carrying its one millionth passenger and, bolstered by development in air travel, Malaysian Airline System carried its two millionth passenger by the end of that year.
  • Malaysian Airline System started to service even more international routes. Popular business destinations including Tokyo, London, Madras, Manila and Sydney were soon introduced while services were added to Amman, Hat Yai, Jeddah, Perth and Taipei.
• 1975
  • The in-flight magazine, 'Wings of Gold', made its debut on all Malaysian Airline System services.
• 1976
  • Malaysian Airline System entered the information age with the computerization of its whole operation.
  • The delivery of its first wide-bodied DC10 aircraft allowed Malaysian Airline System to offer new and exciting international destinations to Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Paris.

[edit] 1980s

• 1980-1985
  • Malaysian Airline System invested in a new maintenance hangar facility and the extension of its catering facilities in Subang.
  • Malaysian Airline System moved into its new corporate headquarters on Jalan Sultan Ismail, located right in the heart of the central business district of Kuala Lumpur.
• 1986
  • 1 March - Malaysian Airline System unveiled its new uniform.
  • Malaysian Airline System offered its first flight service to the United States. The service, which ran twice a week to Los Angeles via Tokyo, also saw its first deployment of the brand new Boeing 747-300 Combi aircraft with stretched upper deck.
• 1987
  • Malaysian Airline System had established itself as an international carrier of choice, offering 34 domestic routes and 27 international destinations.
  • 30 September - The introduction of its Esteemed Traveller loyalty programme demonstrated Malaysian Airline System's commitment to customer relationship management.
  • October - Malaysian Airline System (MAS) changed its corporate identity and became known as Malaysia Airlines.

[edit] 1990s

• 1990
  • Malaysia Airlines extended its global reach to include more destinations including Guangzhou, Ho Chih Min City, Fukuoka and Pontianak.
  • Flights were added to its London and Tokyo routes to cater to the increased passenger traffic.
• 1996
  • 9 January - Malaysia Airlines announced the purchase of ten B777-200s, five B777-300s and ten B747-400s from Boeing Aircraft Company at an estimated RM10 billion. The B777s were powered by Roll Royce engines and the B747s by Pratt & Whitney engines.
• 1997
  • 2 April - A new flight was launched to mark the 50th Anniversary of Malaysia Airlines. The newly acquired B777-200 broke two world records; one for the longest non-stop flight from Seattle to Kuala Lumpur, and another for the speed recorded for the journey. This aircraft was named 'Super Ranger'. On April 27, 1997, this aircraft was ferry flighted to Kuala Lumpur.
  • 24 April - Malaysia Airlines became largest Boeing 737-400 operator outside the United States.
• 1999
  • Enrich frequent flyer programme made its debut after the split from Passages.
  • November - The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has granted the first antitrust immunity for an alliance between a U.S. and Asian carrier. Northwest Airlines and Malaysia Airlines can team up to better serve their customers.

[edit] 2000s

• 2001
  • April - Malaysia Airlines became the first airline in the world to pilot a twin-engine commercial jet through the newly opened polar routes, passing through the inhospitable regions of Russia and North Alaska.
• 2003
  • Malaysia Airlines' parent company Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad (PMB) signed a deal for 6 Airbus A380 aircraft.
• 2005
  • 1 December - Idris Jala appointed as Malaysia Airlines' new Managing Director and CEO.
• 2006
  • January - Malaysia Airlines became the 43rd operator in the IOSA (IATA Operations Safety Audit) registry out of 275 IATA member airlines.
  • 27 February - Malaysia Airlines announced its Business Turnaround Plan aiming to turn the company into profitability in 2007.
  • 31 July - Mutual Separation Scheme, a voluntary exercise completed. About 2000 of its staff took the option.
  • 1 August - Malaysia Airlines terminated its Rural Air Services and 99 domestic routes under Domestic Rationalism Policy.

[edit] References

• Malaysia Airlines; (2002). Malaysia Airlines Cabin Crew Manual: Introduction to Malaysia Airlines. Kuala Lumpur: Flight Operations.
• Malaysia Airlines; (2002). Malaysia Airlines Cabin Crew Manual: Grooming & Uniform Procedures. Kuala Lumpur: Flight Operations.
• Berita Pulse; (October 2006). Berita Pulse, October 2006. Kuala Lumpur: Communications Division, Malaysia Airlines.
• Berita Pulse; (August 2006). Berita Pulse, August 2006. Kuala Lumpur: Communications Division, Malaysia Airlines.
• Berita Pulse; (July 2006). Berita Pulse, July 2006. Kuala Lumpur: Communications Division, Malaysia Airlines.
• Berita Pulse; (June 2006). Berita Pulse, June 2006. Kuala Lumpur: Communications Division, Malaysia Airlines.
• "Malaysia Airlines: Corporate Info". Retrieved 31 October 2006.
• "MASkargo: Corporate Info". Retrieved 31 October 2006.
• "Berita Pulse". Retrieved 31 October 2006.
• Going Places; (August 2006). Going Places, August 2006. Kuala Lumpur: Communications Division, Malaysia Airlines.
• "AeroMalaysia: Malaysia Airlines: Current Fleet". Retrieved 31 October 2006.
• "AeroMalaysia: Malaysia Airlines: Former Fleet". Retrieved 31 October 2006.

[edit] External links

• Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad - Parent Company
• Malaysia Airlines - Corporate Website
• MASkargo - MASkargo Corporate Website
• Berita Pulse - Malaysia Airlines Corporate News [Intranet]
• Enrich by Malaysia Airlines - Enrich Frequent Flyer Programme
• Four Seasons Resort Langkawi - A Malaysia Airlines/Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Joint Venture
• Department of Civil Aviation
• KL International Airport
• Airbus Industries - Aircraft Manufacturer
• The Boeing Company - Aircraft Manufacturer
• International Air Transport Association - Member
• Pacific Asia Travel Association - Member