Firefly expects muted business traffic demand due to COVID-19

SUBANG (Feb 17): FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd, the turboprop arm of state-owned Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd (MAG), expects demand from the corporate segment to be “slightly muted” this year due to the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Its chief executive officer (CEO) Philip See said this would particularly affect the Singapore and domestic business routes, but overall the airline remains confident of a strong passenger growth in 2020.

“Even if it is a bit of a blip, the recovery can be very fast,” Philip told reporters at the launch of Visit Malaysia 2020 Langkawi Discovery livery on all Firefly aircraft, here, today. The event was held in partnership with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.

“We are seeing some challenges from the Singapore [traffic] because of the overall effect [of Covid-19] on the Singapore market. However, we remain confident because these markets are under the shorter booking profile,” he added.

Firefly currently flies from its main hub in Subang to Penang, Langkawi, Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu, Johor Bahru and Alor Setar. Its other routes include flights to Singapore from Subang, Ipoh and Kuantan.

The turboprop operator also operates from its Penang hub, offering flights to Subang, Kota Bharu, Kuantan and Langkawi, as well as regional routes including Thailand and Indonesia.

In conjunction with the Langkawi Discovery campaign, Firefly is offering a 30% discount on flight tickets to the island for all passengers through various packages including a three-day, two-night package at RM211 per person.

The promotion is valid for bookings within three days starting Feb 17, for travel dates between Feb 17 and June 30 this year.

Also present was the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Noor Zari Hamat, who said the ministry expects a 20% increase in tourist arrivals to Langkawi between February and June this year, for both the Subang-Langkawi and Penang-Langkawi routes. Last year, the two routes recorded some 4,000 and 6,300 tourists respectively.

He also expressed hope that the Ministry of Finance would lower the RM10 tourism tax and include training incentives in the economic stimulus package, set to be unveiled on Feb 27, to boost the hospitality sector affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

On the Kedah state government’s aim to achieve six million tourist arrivals this year, state youth and sports, tourism, arts and culture, and entrepreneurship development committee chairman Mohd Asmirul Anuar Aris believes the target is still achievable thanks to the various efforts by the federal government in addressing the COVID-19 issue.

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