Malaysia Airlines to second pilots to other airlines

Executives said the message to the pilots indicated that the secondment was part of the network rationalisation plan, which involves capacity cuts and suspension of flights to select destinations. It has been said that changes would impact manpower requirements. (During better times: A 2011 file pic shows 12 new MAS cadet pilots, sponsored by MARA, at the Asia Pacific Flight Training Centre at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport, Kelantan.)

PETALING JAYA: Just when many pilots thought they had secured long-term employment with the new Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB), they were alerted by email informing them that a secondment exercise was on the cards.

Some preliminary figures being bandied about say the secondment could involve up to 400 pilots, although the figures could not be verified.