GWR
03-06-08, 07:40 PM
Firefly to create a buzz in August
By Marina Emmanuel
Published: 2008/06/02
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/Industries/BizFocus/firef.xml/Article/Current_News/BTIMES/Images/btgraph8/atr.jpg
[Photo:http://www.btimes.com.my]
ATR planes are a natural hedge against rising fuel price, says the managing director of Firefly, which will take delivery of the first ATR 72-500 in August
COME August, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is set to create some aviation excitement when its wholly-owned subsidiary, FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd, takes delivery of its first ATR 72-500 turbo-propeller aircraft.
The ATR turboprop is one of 10 the national carrier has ordered from Aerei da Trasporto Regionale, or Avions de Transport Regional (ATR), an Italian-French aircraft manufacturer.
ATR was formed in 1981 by Aerospatiale of France (now EADS) and Aeritalia (now Alenia Aeronautica) of Italy, and its main products are the ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft.
Describing its business model as one targeting a "new way of air travel", with major cities in Malaysia, southern Thailand and Sumatra connected by a web of direct air services, Firefly managing director Eddy Leong said the ATR will enable passengers to have the best mix of accessibility through high flight frequencies.
As the number one turboprop maker in the world, ATR takes pride in claiming that every 20 seconds, an ATR plane is taking off somewhere in the world.
ATR and Bombardier are the major turboprop makers, with the former commanding 60 per cent market share.
ATR general secretary Aldo Mucciardi described 2006 as a "good vintage" for the company, which delivered 24 planes compared with 15 in 2005.
"And 2007 was even better. We recorded an 83 per cent climb with the delivery of 44 turbo-props," he told Malaysian journalists during a recent visit to ATR's headquarters in Blagnac, Toulouse, France.
With orders for 113 aircraft last year (highest in ATR history), the company is looking to deliver more than 60 planes this year.
Of the 13 new customers ATR won worldwide, Malaysia Airlines and the Philippines' Cebu Pacific purchased 15 and 10 new planes respectively, bringing to 25 the number of ATR aircraft that will be operating in Asia.
Its other customers include Air Mauritius, Berjaya Air, Air New Zealand, Bangkok Airlines, India's Kingfisher and Italy's Alitalia.
Plans are afoot to ramp up production capacity to answer market demand, Mucciardi said.
"With nine aircraft produced in 2003, 44 in 2007 and more than 60 this year, it is clear that operators increasingly appreciate the advantages of turboprops," ATR vice-president for industry Thierry Casale said.
"To meet this surging demand, ATR has had to ramp up production."
In Blagnac, which serves as the pulse of Europe's aerospace industry, ATR has restructured its final assembly line operations around assembly process, ground tests and customisation, and runway tests (where engine runs, flight tests and delivery are carried out).
The company aims to step up its rate of production from six aircraft a month to 10 by 2010.
To be more flexible and responsive to customer needs, ATR opened a delivery centre at nearby Saint Martin-du-Touch in November last year, doubling its processing capacity and enabling seven planes to be tested concurrently.
Referring to statistics that indicate 55 per cent of 50- to 70- seater aircraft are turboprops, Mucciardi said operators are increasingly recognising the advantages, which it said include being more economical and environment-friendly to operate than turbo-jets.
"Based on our computations, Firefly will be able to save some 61,000 tonnes of fuel, or some US$70 million (RM226 million) in fuel cost, over five years on the Penang-Subang route alone, assuming fuel price is at US$115 (RM371) per barrel. ATRs are a natural hedge against rising fuel price," he said.
Leong added that since Firefly's focus is short-haul, secondary routes which have thinner traffic volume, the ATR is a logical buy.
"The Penang-Kuantan route, for example, is unlikely to be feasible if operated on a B737 or A320 aircraft.
"When we set out to evaluate the aircraft for our intended network, it became very clear that we needed a propeller aircraft that gives us the best blend of economics (especially fuel economy), proven record, passenger comfort, environmental qualities and long-term commitment to reducing structural costs. We found all these in ATR," he said.
The Malaysian journalists taken on a test flight on the ATR 72-500 around Toulouse got to experience the latest generation turbo-prop aircraft which has merged high technology, comfort and performance.
The jet-like cabin with its streamlined leather seats and diode lighting bespoke a high level of comfort.
Thanks to a range of improvements, such as noise and vibration reduction in its 72-500s, the droning of propellers has become a thing of the past.
ATR is using the new 568F six-blade propeller, which is specially optimised for low cabin noise during climb and cruise and low vibration.
All seats on the 72-500 have individual terminal screens, which are suspended from the overhead compartment.
The standard 72-500 with front-door configuration consists of 68 seats at a pitch of 31 inches, with a straight partition including a front cabin attendant station.
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/Industries/BizFocus/firef.xml/Article/
Carrier to use ATR turboprop for route expansion
Published: 2008/06/03
LAST December, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and Aerei da Trasporto Regionale (ATR) inked a deal consisting of a contract and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the purchase of 20 ATR 72-500 planes.
Firefly and MASwings, the two fully-owned subsidiaries of MAS, will operate 10 ATRs each.
The contract for Firefly's ATRs includes options for 10 more planes, while the MOU with regard to MASwings includes options for five more.
The aircraft are being sold by ATR at US$18.5 million (RM60 million) each.
Firefly's 72-500s, configured with 72 seats and featuring the "Elegance Cabin", are intended for the expansion of its network as the airline establishes its hubs in Subang, Penang, Johor Baru and Kota Kinabalu while progressively replacing its Fokker 50 aircraft.
Firefly uses three F-50s, which Leong said will be "fully retired" by October when it takes delivery of three ATRs.
"This is to ensure that we have a single fleet type to reduce cost and complications of having different sets of pilots, cabin crew and engineers," he said.
On Firefly's customer profile, Leong said a survey showed that passengers are typically those who are "time-sensitive".
"These are passengers who see the advantages of Firefly's business model, which makes air travel truly hassle-free with direct services between cities.
"An added bonus is that we operate from the Subang airport where passengers will save significant transportation cost and time."
Beginning October 26, Firefly plans to introduce more routes, including Penang-Banda Aceh, Penang-Medan, Subang-Koh Samui, Subang-Pekan Baru, Subang-Kertih and Subang-Johor Baru.
While stating that Firefly will focus on the turboprop fleet as part of MAS' Business Transformation Plan 2, Leong did not discount the possibility of its expanding into other aircraft type later.
"Firefly will continue to entrench its position as a community airline offering safe, affordable and convenient air travel.
"With the ATR, we are dramatically upgrading our product to improve passenger comfort while lowering our operating costs, which will give us more room to offer affordable fares," Leong said.
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/Industries/BizFocus/firef2.xml/Article/
I really want to know if Firefly are still interested in the KL (Subang) to Hat-Yai route:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2887
By Marina Emmanuel
Published: 2008/06/02
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/Industries/BizFocus/firef.xml/Article/Current_News/BTIMES/Images/btgraph8/atr.jpg
[Photo:http://www.btimes.com.my]
ATR planes are a natural hedge against rising fuel price, says the managing director of Firefly, which will take delivery of the first ATR 72-500 in August
COME August, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is set to create some aviation excitement when its wholly-owned subsidiary, FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd, takes delivery of its first ATR 72-500 turbo-propeller aircraft.
The ATR turboprop is one of 10 the national carrier has ordered from Aerei da Trasporto Regionale, or Avions de Transport Regional (ATR), an Italian-French aircraft manufacturer.
ATR was formed in 1981 by Aerospatiale of France (now EADS) and Aeritalia (now Alenia Aeronautica) of Italy, and its main products are the ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft.
Describing its business model as one targeting a "new way of air travel", with major cities in Malaysia, southern Thailand and Sumatra connected by a web of direct air services, Firefly managing director Eddy Leong said the ATR will enable passengers to have the best mix of accessibility through high flight frequencies.
As the number one turboprop maker in the world, ATR takes pride in claiming that every 20 seconds, an ATR plane is taking off somewhere in the world.
ATR and Bombardier are the major turboprop makers, with the former commanding 60 per cent market share.
ATR general secretary Aldo Mucciardi described 2006 as a "good vintage" for the company, which delivered 24 planes compared with 15 in 2005.
"And 2007 was even better. We recorded an 83 per cent climb with the delivery of 44 turbo-props," he told Malaysian journalists during a recent visit to ATR's headquarters in Blagnac, Toulouse, France.
With orders for 113 aircraft last year (highest in ATR history), the company is looking to deliver more than 60 planes this year.
Of the 13 new customers ATR won worldwide, Malaysia Airlines and the Philippines' Cebu Pacific purchased 15 and 10 new planes respectively, bringing to 25 the number of ATR aircraft that will be operating in Asia.
Its other customers include Air Mauritius, Berjaya Air, Air New Zealand, Bangkok Airlines, India's Kingfisher and Italy's Alitalia.
Plans are afoot to ramp up production capacity to answer market demand, Mucciardi said.
"With nine aircraft produced in 2003, 44 in 2007 and more than 60 this year, it is clear that operators increasingly appreciate the advantages of turboprops," ATR vice-president for industry Thierry Casale said.
"To meet this surging demand, ATR has had to ramp up production."
In Blagnac, which serves as the pulse of Europe's aerospace industry, ATR has restructured its final assembly line operations around assembly process, ground tests and customisation, and runway tests (where engine runs, flight tests and delivery are carried out).
The company aims to step up its rate of production from six aircraft a month to 10 by 2010.
To be more flexible and responsive to customer needs, ATR opened a delivery centre at nearby Saint Martin-du-Touch in November last year, doubling its processing capacity and enabling seven planes to be tested concurrently.
Referring to statistics that indicate 55 per cent of 50- to 70- seater aircraft are turboprops, Mucciardi said operators are increasingly recognising the advantages, which it said include being more economical and environment-friendly to operate than turbo-jets.
"Based on our computations, Firefly will be able to save some 61,000 tonnes of fuel, or some US$70 million (RM226 million) in fuel cost, over five years on the Penang-Subang route alone, assuming fuel price is at US$115 (RM371) per barrel. ATRs are a natural hedge against rising fuel price," he said.
Leong added that since Firefly's focus is short-haul, secondary routes which have thinner traffic volume, the ATR is a logical buy.
"The Penang-Kuantan route, for example, is unlikely to be feasible if operated on a B737 or A320 aircraft.
"When we set out to evaluate the aircraft for our intended network, it became very clear that we needed a propeller aircraft that gives us the best blend of economics (especially fuel economy), proven record, passenger comfort, environmental qualities and long-term commitment to reducing structural costs. We found all these in ATR," he said.
The Malaysian journalists taken on a test flight on the ATR 72-500 around Toulouse got to experience the latest generation turbo-prop aircraft which has merged high technology, comfort and performance.
The jet-like cabin with its streamlined leather seats and diode lighting bespoke a high level of comfort.
Thanks to a range of improvements, such as noise and vibration reduction in its 72-500s, the droning of propellers has become a thing of the past.
ATR is using the new 568F six-blade propeller, which is specially optimised for low cabin noise during climb and cruise and low vibration.
All seats on the 72-500 have individual terminal screens, which are suspended from the overhead compartment.
The standard 72-500 with front-door configuration consists of 68 seats at a pitch of 31 inches, with a straight partition including a front cabin attendant station.
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/Industries/BizFocus/firef.xml/Article/
Carrier to use ATR turboprop for route expansion
Published: 2008/06/03
LAST December, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and Aerei da Trasporto Regionale (ATR) inked a deal consisting of a contract and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the purchase of 20 ATR 72-500 planes.
Firefly and MASwings, the two fully-owned subsidiaries of MAS, will operate 10 ATRs each.
The contract for Firefly's ATRs includes options for 10 more planes, while the MOU with regard to MASwings includes options for five more.
The aircraft are being sold by ATR at US$18.5 million (RM60 million) each.
Firefly's 72-500s, configured with 72 seats and featuring the "Elegance Cabin", are intended for the expansion of its network as the airline establishes its hubs in Subang, Penang, Johor Baru and Kota Kinabalu while progressively replacing its Fokker 50 aircraft.
Firefly uses three F-50s, which Leong said will be "fully retired" by October when it takes delivery of three ATRs.
"This is to ensure that we have a single fleet type to reduce cost and complications of having different sets of pilots, cabin crew and engineers," he said.
On Firefly's customer profile, Leong said a survey showed that passengers are typically those who are "time-sensitive".
"These are passengers who see the advantages of Firefly's business model, which makes air travel truly hassle-free with direct services between cities.
"An added bonus is that we operate from the Subang airport where passengers will save significant transportation cost and time."
Beginning October 26, Firefly plans to introduce more routes, including Penang-Banda Aceh, Penang-Medan, Subang-Koh Samui, Subang-Pekan Baru, Subang-Kertih and Subang-Johor Baru.
While stating that Firefly will focus on the turboprop fleet as part of MAS' Business Transformation Plan 2, Leong did not discount the possibility of its expanding into other aircraft type later.
"Firefly will continue to entrench its position as a community airline offering safe, affordable and convenient air travel.
"With the ATR, we are dramatically upgrading our product to improve passenger comfort while lowering our operating costs, which will give us more room to offer affordable fares," Leong said.
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/Industries/BizFocus/firef2.xml/Article/
I really want to know if Firefly are still interested in the KL (Subang) to Hat-Yai route:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2887