newsinsightplus.com
- 10m
- 2018Despair
- March 14, 2024
- 0 Comments
BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaMH370: How Malaysia Airlines came back from twin tragediesPublished36 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsMH17 plane crashImage source, Getty ImagesBy Frances Maoin SingaporeTen years ago this month, Malaysia Airlines was devastated by the twin disasters of MH370 and MH17.Flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared over the Indian Ocean on 8 March 2014 with 239 people on board. Despite millions of dollars spent on the largest search in aviation history the plane has still not been found.The airline was still reeling from that tragedy when in July of the same year, MH17 was shot down by a Russian-controlled armed group above conflict-ridden Ukraine. All 283 passengers and 15 flight crew were killed.There had been 160 planes flying over the war zone that day but it was MH17 that was hit.An airline losing two passenger jets in five months was an event that remains unprecedented to this day.Many saw it like a curse, on an airline which had operated for 70 years largely unscathed.Malaysia Airlines had long enjoyed an excellent safety record and had even won awards for service. It had a huge fleet flying all over the world from its base in Kuala Lumpur.But after the calamities in 2014, passengers got the jitters. Customers switched to other airlines and media reports from the time showed near-empty flights on longer routes.Last year, though, its chief executive said the company was on track to see its first annual net profit in a decade. The airline did not respond to the BBC’s questions but analysts say a slew of route cuts helped shore up its finances, while rebranding with an emphasis on safety has won back customers.”It is now a leaner, more focused company – albeit one with somewhat reduced ambitions,” says aviation industry watcher Greg Waldron.Today, Malaysia Airlines continues to cross the skies, transporting millions of passengers around the world each year. So how did it keep going?Malaysia to the rescueImmediately after the second disaster, the Malaysian government sprang into action. The airline was the national flag carrier with more than 20,000 employees and its stock market value had plunged.The country’s sovereign wealth fund – Khazanah Nasional – stepped in. At that point, it already owned 69% of the company. A month after the MH17 disaster, it bought out the airline’s other shareholders, delisted the firm from the stock exchange, created a new company and declared the old firm bankrupt.Malaysia Airlines was fully nationalised – the first key step to saving the company.Under the government’s recovery plan – named “Rebuilding a National Icon” – the cost of tickets was also slashed while accountants took a fine-toothed comb to the company’s operations.Prior to 2014, the airline had already begun to cut long, unprofitable routes to places like North and South America and South Africa.After 2014 it shed these routes in earnest, axing several established long-haul flights, including those to New York and Stockholm. It eventually cut all of its European destinations except for London.Today, Heathrow remains Malaysia Airlines’ only European stop – and that has become a key money-making route, particularly in the wake of Covid.For the last few years, it has been the only airline running a non-stop flight to London from Kuala Lumpur after British Airways dropped the route during the pandemic.”With a monopoly like that, on a premiere route, an airline can charge a lot of money, particularly to people who are not price-sensitive and must travel quickly,” says aviation analyst Brian Sumers.The company also took advantage of the global aviation pause during Covid to restructure its debts – but kept its planes in the air, being one of the key carriers operating repatriation flights from Europe to Asia.Other airlines in Asia and Europe retired planes during the pandemic, so they were not ready for the quick bounce-back in demand.Malaysia Airlines, on the other hand, had a head start when borders re-opened – and it made the most of that advantage, analysts say. The Asia-Pacific region has the busiest routes in the world – claiming seven of the top 10 international routes – including the most-travelled one, from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.There were 4.9 million seats sold on that route alone last year, according to air traffic data firm OAG.Today, Malaysia Airlines is viewed as a “middle-of-the-pack” carrier focused on Oceania, Asia and the UK.”They’ve managed to stay afloat through the backing of the Malaysian government – been able to get things to a steady state, a modern fleet and modern aircraft and manage things in a way that keeps things going,” says analyst Ellis Taylor from aviation data firm Cirium.Dealing with perceptionsThe airline’s approach seems to have paid off – and it appears that, for many international fliers, pragmatic considerations outweigh the company’s past.”If air traffic is anything to go by, MH370 and other disasters are definitely not front of mind when passengers look to buy tickets,” Mr Waldron says.”Generally they are looking at price, but convenience also plays a role.”That was the case for Australian Hannah Blackiston, who took an MH flight from London back to Adelaide in late 2022. Malaysia was the only airline operating a direct flight.”I booked it with them without really thinking about it just because it was cheap and I was popping back to see my dad because he was sick,” she said. When booking the flight, she says the tragedies did cross her mind but didn’t faze her. However, her mother was much more upset.”My mum, when she found out, was up in arms about it – she was like ‘You can’t fly with them!’ And I was, like, ‘Mum, if anybody’s going to be on top of their safety regulations, it’s going to be these guys’.”Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, People paid tribute to the MH370 plane victims last week in MalaysiaHer journey was smooth and she had the service was good, she says.”The flying experience was great, they were a really good provider. There was nothing that would put me off flying with them after having a positive experience. So if anything, yeah, it made me feel a bit better about the brand in general and safety and I would fly with them again.”Australian doctor Abdullah Naji, 25, who is currently based in the Malaysian city of Penang, says he flies with them frequently, but mainly domestic routes.”Of course, there’s a natural initial hesitancy that stems from such a historic event, but it’s the actions taken post-MH370 that have reinstated my confidence in the airline,” he said.”The airline’s efforts in rebranding and focusing on safety are evident, not just in words but in actionable measures,” he said.He pointed out the airline’s safety video, a jazzy song and dance number which highlights Malaysian hospitality and features lyrics like: “We’re all in this together” and “We’ll take care of each other in any weather”.”There’s a sense of national solidarity,” Mr Naji suggests.”Locals tend to view the airline as an emblem of national pride, acknowledging the steps it has taken towards recovery and improvement since MH370.”Analysts say the a staunch Malaysian customer base has helped to keep the airline going. Mr Sumers also points out that the brand’s resilience is in line with other national flag carriers. “It’s surprisingly uncommon for big national airlines to go bust, even amid calamity.”But for those without that relationship, the tragedies associated with the brand seem to linger.One Singapore-based passenger says she briefly panicked when she realised she was getting on a MH-coded short-haul route from Langkawi to Kuala Lumpur. She had booked the flight through Singapore Airlines and didn’t realise it was the code-sharing deal.It was an uneventful flight, she says. “But I do remember having a conversation around: ‘Oh wow are we actually on a MH numbered flight when we were boarding.” Mr Naji says it just comes down to experience at the end of the day.”I used to get very conscious of it when boarding but I’m OK now having flown with them a few times already.”Related TopicsMH17 plane crashAir travelMH370 plane disappearanceMalaysiaMore on this storyMH370: The families haunted by one of aviation’s greatest mysteriesPublished6 days agoMissing aircraft: Could MH370 finally be found?Published3 December 2021Aviation chief quits over MH370 failingsPublished31 July 2018Despair and a rucksack: A sombre MH17 testimonyPublished10 September 2021Putin probably supplied MH17 missile, says reportPublished8 February 2023Top StoriesI won’t return money from donor accused of racism – PMPublished2 hours agoWatch: Abbott stands to catch Speaker’s attention 46 times. VideoWatch: Abbott stands to catch Speaker’s attention 46 timesPublished3 hours agoReturn hostages at any cost, says Israeli freed from GazaPublished7 hours agoFeaturesPoliticians flounder as they wrestle with race rowsThe hidden village just metres from North KoreaEgg freezing patients ‘misled’ by clinicsInside the US plan to get food into Gaza by seaOlympics culture row as far right rages at French singerCould the US ban TikTok?What are children learning in sex education?Mel B on moving in with her mum after abusive marriageRishi Sunak and the £10m question. AudioRishi Sunak and the £10m questionAttributionSoundsElsewhere on the BBC’It was a song that broke all the rules’The epic story behind Bohemian Rhapsody, featuring Brian May and Roger TaylorAttributioniPlayerDid one man from Iraq make Norway rich?Meet the man behind Norway’s rise to oil richesAttributionSoundsCritically acclaimed and utterly compelling…Masterful, claustrophobic drama starring Sofie Gråbøl as a troubled prison guardAttributioniPlayerAre you a descendant of royalty?Geneticist Dr. Adam Rutherford sets out to prove that we all are…AttributionSoundsMost Read1Body found weeks ago believed that of missing woman2Actress Olivia Munn shares breast cancer diagnosis3British couple die on Caribbean island in Grenada4Trailblazer Cavallo gets engaged on Adelaide Utd pitchAttributionSport5’I stare at my wife’s ashes wondering if it is her’6Return hostages at any cost, says Israeli freed from Gaza7US House passes bill that could ban TikTok nationwide8I won’t return money from donor accused of racism – PM9MP regains Labour whip after using contentious phrase10’Man in the iron lung’ Paul Alexander dies at 78
[ad_1] Despite the MH370 and MH17 disasters, Malaysia’s national carrier is still flying a decade on.
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaIgor Girkin shot down a passenger jet, then insulted Putin. Which one put him in jail?Published1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineImage source, MAXIM SHIPENKOV/EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockImage caption, Igor Girkin has escaped justice for downing flight MH17 but is going to jail after criticising Vladimir PutinBy Steve RosenbergRussia Editor, MoscowThe last time I saw Igor Girkin was five years ago in the stairwell of a Moscow news agency.”Would you consider giving me an interview?” I asked. “No,” he replied sharply and scurried away.I saw him again today. No stairwell. This time, Girkin was in a caged dock surrounded by police in the Moscow City Court. Along with other media we were allowed in to film him for just one minute before the end of his trial. A police dog kept barking. Girkin found that amusing. The verdict less so. Minutes later he was found guilty on extremism charges and sentenced to four years in a penal colony. This wasn’t his first conviction. In The Hague in 2022, in absentia, Girkin was found guilty of the murder of 298 people: the passengers and crew of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17. The Boeing jet had been shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014 by Russian-controlled forces in the early stages of Russia’s war there. Girkin was one of three men sentenced to life imprisonment. A judgement he ignored.A year after we’d met in the stairwell, I managed to get through to Girkin on the phone and ask him about the Hague. “I do not recognise the authority of the Dutch court on this matter,” he told me. “I am a military man and I am not going to accept that a civilian court in a foreign country has the authority to convict a person who took part in someone else’s civil war, only because their civilians were killed.”Do you know who shot down [the plane]?””The rebels didn’t shoot down the Boeing. I have nothing more to say.”This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Russian rebel commander Igor Girkin told the BBC in 2020 he did not recognise the court’s authority”If it wasn’t the rebels, then was it Russian soldiers?” I asked.”That’s it. Goodbye.” He hung up. Now he is going to prison. But not for mass murder. And not for life. So, who exactly is Girkin – also known under his pseudonym as Igor Strelkov – and why has a Moscow court sent him to jail?He is a former FSB officer in Russia’s domestic security service. In 2014 he played a key role in the fighting in Ukraine’s Donbas region: a conflict engineered and orchestrated by Moscow.He organised and commanded pro-Russia militias in eastern Ukraine. The Dutch court would later rule that Russia had been in control of the separatist forces fighting in eastern Ukraine and that Girkin had helped to bring the Buk missile system into Ukraine that was used to shoot down flight MH17. Three guilty of downing airliner over UkrainePutin critic Girkin wants Russia presidential runFollowing Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, ultranationalist Girkin became a prominent pro-war blogger. He became increasingly critical of the way the Russian authorities were waging the war: not hard enough, in his view. He founded a hard line nationalist movement called The Club of Angry Patriots. His problems began when he started to take that anger out on President Vladimir Putin. Public criticisms of the Russian president turned to insults. In a post last year, Girkin described Putin as “a non-entity” and “a cowardly waste of space”. A few days later he was arrested. Now he’s been tried and convicted. Of course, a four-year prison sentence is mild in comparison to other recent punishments delivered by Russian courts. Last year pro-democracy activist Vladimir Kara-Murza was sentenced to a quarter of a century behind bars after being convicted of treason, a case he and his supporters insist was politically motivated.Putin critic jailed for 25 years in Russia’Send back our husbands’ – Russian women in rare protestHow would the “Angry Patriots” react to Girkin’s prison term? Would they pour on to the streets in protest? Image source, MAXIM SHIPENKOV/EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockImage caption, Some of Girkin supporters were detained outside the court in MoscowNot exactly. A few dozen supporters gathered outside the Moscow City Court to chant “Freedom to Strelkov!” but there was little hint of optimism in their voices. “They’ve put a Russian national patriot on trial,” Denis tells me. “I hope our people wake up and fight. Unfortunately, we don’t see much pushback. Everyone seems to be hiding away.”Also in the crowd was retired colonel and outspoken ultranationalist Vladimir Kvachkov.Having informed me that “Russia will always be the enemy of the Anglo-Saxon West” and assured me that the break-up of the United Kingdom was inevitable, Mr Kvachkov claimed that Girkin was being punished for “fighting against the system.”In recent years the “system” concentrated on clearing the Russian political landscape of pro-democracy, pro-Western critics and challengers. A prison sentence for Girkin suggests the Russian authorities have now decided to crackdown on critics from the opposite end of spectrum: the so-called ultra-patriots. Last year’s mutiny by Wagner mercenaries led by Yevgeny Prigozhin may be the reason. The Putin system survived the challenge. But that drama will have alerted the Kremlin to the potential dangers from highly motivated nationalistic and patriotic elements in Russian society.Related TopicsWar in UkraineRussiaVladimir PutinMore on this storyPutin critic Girkin wants Russia presidential runPublished19 November 2023Pro-war Putin critic Strelkov detained in MoscowPublished21 July 2023Wanted Russian rebel scorns MH17 trial. Video, 00:01:25Wanted Russian rebel scorns MH17 trialPublished9 March 20201:25Top StoriesFamilies’ anger as triple killer gets hospital orderPublished24 minutes agoWatch: Killer’s rampage and arrest caught on camera. VideoWatch: Killer’s rampage and arrest caught on cameraPublished4 hours agoSturgeon called Johnson a ‘clown’, inquiry hearsPublished28 minutes agoFeaturesCould the UK’s ‘pre-war generation’ become a citizen army?Downed Russian plane leaves unanswered questionsWhy a key crime stat doesn’t tell the full story about sexual offencesThe secrets of Claudia Winkleman’s Traitors styleHow many countries still have the death penalty?UK to loan back Ghana’s looted ‘crown jewels’The crime hotspot helping ex-offenders go straightPostcode check: How’s the NHS coping in your area?Chris Mason: Has Sunak seen off latest Tory wobbles?Elsewhere on the BBCCan you guess what’s happening in an advert you can’t see?Chris McCausland asks a panel of comedians to live in an audio only worldAttributionSoundsHow did Britain lead the world into the jet age?An unlikely story of outstanding aviation achievement at a time of national austerityAttributioniPlayer’Comedy saved my life’First broadcast in 2010, hear Frank Skinner’s desert island picks and personal revelationsAttributionSoundsThe mysterious deaths of Nazi fugitivesThree brothers investigate whether a family connection may explain the truthAttributioniPlayerMost Read1NHS consultants reject offer of double pay rise2Families’ anger as triple killer gets hospital order3Tom Holland bonus sent to Tom Hollander in error4Baby kept in Lidl bag before being dumped, court told5Foreign Office warns man running length of Africa6Microsoft lays off 1,900 gaming division staff7Sturgeon called Johnson a ‘clown’, inquiry hears8Lloyds to cut 1,600 jobs in major branch overhaul9Russian ‘ultra-patriot’ jailed after insulting Putin10Could the UK’s ‘pre-war generation’ become a citizen army?](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/D6E5/production/_132431055_girkin.jpg)
