Emirates to hire Malaysia Airlines’ pilots

Visitors look at an Emirates airline's Airbus A380 dislayed at the Dubai Airshow on November 9, 2015. AFP PHOTO / MARWAN NAAMANI

SEPANG: Emirates is opening its arms to interested Malaysia Airlines Bhd’s pilots to join the Dubai-based airline.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ divisional senior vice-president (strategic planning, revenue optimisation and aeropolitical affairs) based in Dubai, said Emirates’ plans to hire pilots from other airlines had been ongoing.

“There are plans to take up new pilots including those from Malaysia Airlines, but there are still no details such as number of Malaysia Airlines’ pilots or when it will take place,” he told reporters at Emirates’ media briefing in Sepang on Tuesday.

Malaysia Airlines and Emirates had in December last year inked a codeshare agreement as part of the national carrier’s route rationalisation programme.

The rationalisation exercise will see Malaysia Airlines axing some routes, including to Frankfurt, Istanbul and Brisbane. The latest destination to be withdrawn are the daily services to Paris and Amsterdam, expected to end Feb 1.

Malaysia Airlines will be suspending its Kuala Lumpur-Dubai route by Feb 15 and re-accommodate passengers on the codeshare flights with Emirates.

Malaysia Airlines had reportedly said its network rationalisation exercise would have an impact on its pilots but they have been offered options, which did not include termination.

It reportedly said these pilots would have a choice of career options which include voluntary secondment to other airlines in Asia or West Asia, voluntary no pay long-term leave to pursue other careers, or to remain in Malaysia Airlines and await possible long-term vacancies in other aircraft types.

Meanwhile, Emirates executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Thierry Antinori, said the airline would collaborate with Tourism Malaysia in bringing tourists from its global network especially Europe, Africa and West Asia into the country via its Dubai hub. 

He said Emirates’ target included business and leisure travellers from the three regions which are part of its network of 150 destinations across 80 countries. 

“South-East Asia especially Malaysia is a very important potential for Emirates and the airline has great plans in Malaysia despite the oil and gas issues globally.

“Malaysia’s geographical location between Singapore and Bangkok is very strategic for Emirates to tap into other markets,” Antinori added. 

He said Emirates was celebrating its 20th year of operation in Malaysia this year. Of its 56,000 employees, 730 are Malaysian nationals who are mostly in the cabin crew. - Bernama