KLM move in on Malaysia
 

KLM move in on Malaysia

KLM will strengthen its collaboration with Malaysia's national airline Malaysian Airline System.

Apparently both parties will sign a collaboration agreement in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. The collaboration allows both companies to increase their network of destinations and KLM can thus serve the Asian and Australian market better.

Malaysian and KLM already collaborate on a number of flights in the so-called code-sharing manner. In this way together they will offer daily flights from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur and back.

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KLM President and CEO Leo Van Wijk told the same news conference his company's policy was not to buy into other airlines, adding there were no plans to take a share in MAS.

``We would only consider under very special circumstances, if there's a specific requirement, to take an equity stake.''

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Information source: http://about.klm.com/news/newsitems/...NES_WORKIN.asp


Kuala Lumpur, June 16, 2001 - KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Malaysia Airlines (MAS) intend to intensify cooperation in phases during the coming years, working towards an alliance on the basis of exclusivity. An Alliance Coordination Agreement to this effect was signed by KLM President & CEO Leo van Wijk and MAS Managing Director Dato’ Md Nor Md Yusof in Kuala Lumpur on June 16.


KLM and MAS will combine their marketing, sales and distribution activities, starting with those pertinent to their codeshare flights between their Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur hubs. Subject to approval of concerned authorities, the two carriers intend to work towards a full joint venture, sharing all costs and revenues ensuing from codeshare services. KLM and Northwest Airlines have, for some time, successfully maintained a similar joint-venture structure for their transatlantic services.

Northwest and other partner airlines will be involved in the cooperative venture that KLM and MAS have agreed on now.


The new agreement between KLM and MAS presents an opportunity to pursue phased expansion of codeshare services and to explore further alignment of passenger products and schedules (seamless services); expanding the sharing of cargo capacity, distribution, sales and services; reservation and distribution systems; revenue management; marketing and sales; e-commerce and IT; ground handling; purchasing; catering and engineering & maintenance. The agreement also presents the possibility of staff and management exchange.


The two carriers currently operate codeshare services between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur and beyond these hubs to Scandinavia/Finland and Australia/New Zealand. They have also integrated their loyalty programs Flying Dutchman/WorldPerks (KLM-Northwest) and Enrich (MAS), and made their lounges mutually accessible.

The new agreement allows the two partner airlines to further develop and optimize the full potential of their home hubs Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Both airports with state-of-the-art facilities belong to the most modern on their continents to serve best passengers and cargo customers.

The Netherlands based Schiphol group has confirmed its interest in acquiring a stake in Malaysia Airports Holdings, a report said yesterday.

"We can confirm our interest in Malaysia Airports and that we are in contact with Malaysia Airports," Schiphol corporate communications manager Marianne de Bie told the Malaysian Business Times.

Malaysia Airports, which operates the country's airports including Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), last month said it had held talks with a number of airport operators, including the Schiphol Group, which operates Amsterdam Airport.

But no deal has been reached so far, it said.

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