ANA and Malaysia Airlines Expand Code-share Co-operation Networks to include domestic cities in Japan and Malaysia from December 1, 2007

SUBANG/ TOKYO : ANA and Malaysia Airlines are extending their code-sharing agreement to include domestic sectors within both countries, effective December 1 this year.

In the second expansion since they began code-sharing in March 2004 on flights between Malaysia and Japan, ANA will carry Malaysian Airlines’ flight code, MH, on journeys between Tokyo and Fukuoka, and Tokyo and Nagoya, while Malaysia Airlines will carry the ANA flight code, NH, on journeys between Kuala Lumpur and the Malaysian destinations of Langkawi, Kuching, Penang and Kota Kinabalu.

“ANA passengers will have the convenience of travelling to even more destinations in Malaysia – including the ever popular resorts of Penang and Langkawi – using just ANA’s flight code and a single e-ticket,” said Keisuke Okada, ANA’s executive vice president International Relations. “With through baggage and on-line booking, it will make their journeys simpler and smoother,” he continued.

Malaysia Airlines Managing Director/CEO, Datuk Sri Idris Jala said “The further enhancement of this code share agreement strengthens our hub-and-spoke business strategy that allows our customers access to many destinations in Japan. As both carriers provide seamless passenger connections to more domestic destinations in Japan and Malaysia, we are optimistic that our load factor on the Malaysia-Japan return routes will further improve and contribute to our bottomline”.

“The strategy of developing hub-and-spoke is a crucial part of our Business Turnaround Plan. To date, we are seeing yield and load factor improvements on routes which we do hub-and-spoke," he added.

About Malaysia Airlines and All Nippon Airways Code Share Agreement
In February 2004, Malaysia Airlines and All Nippon Airways (ANA) signed the first code share agreement on air routes between Japan and Malaysia on a “block seat” arrangement basis where a pre-determined passenger seat inventory of Malaysia Airlines was marketed by ANA.

Currently, Malaysia Airlines operates 14 weekly return services between Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo with two return services operated via Kota Kinabalu. It also operates daily services between Kuala Lumpur and Osaka with two flights from Osaka to Kuala Lumpur operated via Kota Kinabalu. All these flights are operated using a 282 seater Boeing 777-200 aircraft. It also operates 3 weekly services between Kuala Lumpur and Nagoya using a 229 seater Airbus 330-200 aircraft.

ANA operates two daily flights on the Tokyo Narita – Nagoya and Tokyo Narita – Fukuoka routes. One each of those flights will carry the Malaysia Airlines flight code

Boeing Delivers Okay Airways’ First 737-800 on Lease from AWAS

SEATTLE, Nov. 29, 2007 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] yesterday delivered a Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 to Tianjin-based Okay Airways Company Ltd., the Peoples’ Republic of China’s first private airline. The new airplane, which is the seventh 737 in Okay Airways’ fleet, is under lease from AWAS.

This 737-800 is the first new-airplane delivery for Okay Airways and the first new-airplane delivery in four years for AWAS, an aircraft leasing company based in Dublin, Ireland.

“Okay Airways selected the Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 to provide the optimum in safety, reliability and economics,” said Liu Jieyin, president of Okay Airways. “We believe that the Next-Generation 737-800 is the best airplane to meet passenger needs and generate profits for the company, while offering lower ticket prices and benefiting our customers.”

Okay’s 737-800 will be used primarily in passenger service, initially for routes such as Tianjin to Kunming, Changsha, Zhang Jiajie, Guilin, Hohhot, Taiyuan and Harbin, followed by other routes as the fleet expands.

“We are very proud of our relationship with Okay Airways, which is yet another milestone in our 90-year history with China,” said Rob Laird, vice president, China and East Asia Sales - Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “China’s projected growth and the superior economics and reliability of the Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 provide an excellent basis for Okay Airways’ success.”

The Boeing 737-800 is the best-selling version of the successful Next-Generation 737 family of airplanes, which are the world’s most popular and reliable commercial jet transports. Known for its reliability, fuel efficiency and economical performance, the 737-800 has been selected by leading carriers throughout the world. The single-aisle jet, which can seat between 162 to 189 passengers, can fly 260 nautical miles farther and consume 6 percent less fuel per seat while carrying 12 more passengers than the competing model.

To date, Boeing has received more than 2,400 orders for the 737-800 from 79 customers.

Source: Boeing

Boeing, Qatar Airways Celebrate 777-300ER Delivery

DOHA, Qatar, Nov. 29, 2007 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Qatar Airways today celebrated the arrival of the first Boeing airplane to join the airline’s fleet. Qatar Airways’ new flagship 777-300ER arrived after a nearly 15-hour direct flight from Paine Field in Everett, Wash.

Qatar has ordered a total of 27 777s with options for five additional airplanes. Qatar also has ordered 30 787 Dreamliners and holds 30 options.

Lee Monson, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president of Sales for the Middle East and Africa, led the Boeing contingent at today’s ceremonies in Doha.

“Today truly marks a milestone in our relationship with Qatar Airways,” Monson said. “We look forward to a strong future of cooperation as we see Qatar’s Boeing fleet expand to become the core of its operations.”

Source: Boeing