The latest development follows the conclusion of the supply contract with Brahim’s Food Services on Aug 31, 2023.
SEPANG: Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) has fully reinstated its in-flight service offerings, thanks to an additional 10 hi-lifts trucks acquired in October 2023.
The hi-lift trucks are an essential part of the overall airline inflight meal process in upholding food quality and safety standards, according to Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd (MAG) group managing director Datuk Captain Izham Ismail.
MAG is the parent company of MAB.
He said the group now boasts a fleet of 24 hi-lifts trucks, six freezers, two chillers and two ware wash machines, enabling it to cater to the affected routes more efficiently and promptly.
The latest development follows the conclusion of the supply contract with Brahim’s Food Services (BFS) on Aug 31, 2023.
MAB initially operated with just four hi-lifts trucks. In September, a fleet expansion saw the addition of 10 hi-lifts trucks, and subsequently, another 10 hi-lifts trucks were acquired in October.
This investment underscores MAB’s commitment to elevating the overall onboard dining experience for its passengers.
“We are not only resuming our normal food and beverage (F&B) offerings onboard the aeroplane but we are also dishing out new menus, Asean delights and so forth.
“We will continue to improve our offerings as time progresses,” Izham said at a briefing on the return of the full service offerings in MAB aircraft.
He acknowledged it was a tough journey that the group had to endure, particularly in the aftermath of ending its contract with BFS.
“But ultimately, MAG remains steadfast in its commitment to being profitable and sustainable for the future,” he added.
Initially, when BFS was in control, the catering cost accounted for 2% of the group’s operational expenses.
However, since taking control of the catering operations alongside its partners, Izham said the catering cost has increased to about 2.5%, although specific figures were not disclosed.“Of course, when our ambition is to provide better quality products to our customers, we do see a rise in costs. That is the money that we are investing to ‘wow’ our customers,” he said.
Izham declined to comment on what is in store for MAB’s 30% stake in BFS.
“Electively, MAG has moved on. We are currently evaluating our future, considering the establishment of our own catering unit.
“We are actively inviting international technical partners to participate in this endeavour,” he said.
Izham clarified that MAG’s current catering facility does not involve cooking, as all cooking is carried out by its partners.
“They (the partners) will cook, freeze it and we will bring it to our area and continue to freeze and chill it to prepare for serving.
“Then, we put it into our trolleys and move it to the aeroplanes with the high-lift trucks,” he said.
He explained that in the first few weeks of September, the group faced challenges in transporting meals to the aeroplanes due to shortage of hi-lifts trucks.
“Today, in our arsenal, we have 24 hi-lifts trucks, which is more than sufficient to meet our requirements,” he said.
MAG is now serving an average of 18,000 meals a day on all its flights departing from Kuala Lumpur.
As part of its catering business continuity plan, the airline has established a temporary distribution centre – the MAG Catering Operations (MCAT) – to manage the assembly of F&B items and the uplifting of meals onboard via hi-lift trucks.
The facility strictly complies with safety standards set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia and local health authorities.
