A much needed reset for the future

In a webinar two days ago, Khairy Jamaluddin, who was appointed Health Minister yesterday, argued that lives vs livelihoods need not be a zero sum game as we open our economy.

FOR the last 12 years, I have travelled to London, mostly on Malaysian Airlines since it is a direct flight without the hassle of lost hours on transit and catching connecting flights.

Due to infrequent and few MH flights to London since the pandemic, I travelled on Singapore Airlines for my current trip, now that Changi Airport has allowed transit flights.

Dubai and Doha Airport stayed open throughout the pandemic while Changi just reopened some months back for transit passengers from Malaysia.

The airline industry has gone through the toughest period since its inception. Closed borders, changing rules on closed and open borders, safety issues of passengers and crew has reduced capacity by 80% to 90%. Cash burn velocity has been unbelievable with high capital investments with loans to service, major staffing costs and the maintenance of aircrafts.