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Issued on 22 October 2009
SHANGHAI (China), 22 October 2009 - Malaysia Airline System Berhad (MAS) and Hainan Airlines Group (HNA) today signed a strategic cooperation framework, signifying the strengthening of their business relationship. This, in turn, will lead to a better resource sharing, multi-hub airline network and expedite the international development progress.
The collaboration will also enable its cargo arm, Malaysia Airlines Cargo Sdn. Bhd (MASkargo), access to HNA Group's strong global network, increase its market share and thus allow the national cargo carrier to have a wider presence worldwide.
The agreement was signed by Tengku Dato' Azmil Zahruddin, Managing Director Malaysia Airlines and Mr. Tan Xiangdong, Director of Board, HNA Group & Executive Chairman of HNA Industrial Co., Ltd, witnessed by Shahari Sulaiman, Managing Director of MASkargo and Mr. Chen Ming, Vice President & Marketing Director of Hainan Airlines Co., Ltd.
In his speech, Tengku Dato' Azmil Zahruddin said, "Through this partnership, we are looking to provide our passengers and cargo with improved connectivity to domestic destinations in China and increase feeder traffic from the Chinese domestic points to our international services. This mutually rewarding partnership will combine excellent service with world-class operations and augurs well for our customers who will enjoy more flight connectivity and trade lanes".
"MASkargo hopes to expand the logistics growth in Malaysia by exploring new markets and venturing into various businesses which have not been tapped into by other carriers and would like to see how the joint venture can help us continue to provide world class high value services at competitive rates to maintain our position as one of Asia’s top three air cargo carriers", he added.
Meanwhile, Mr. Tan Xiangdong, Director of Board, HNA Group & Executive Chairman of HNA Industrial Co. Ltd. Said, "Hainan Airlines Group, as China's fourth largest airline group, pursues to create a world-class enterprise of the Chinese nation and world-class brand. Before the outbreak of the financial crisis, it has been carrying out a series of changes in response to market conditions, and adjusting management structure in order to ensure a normal businesses operation. Today, by signing a strategic cooperation framework agreement, Hainan Airlines and Malaysia Airlines jointly formed a strategic partnership to jointly develop the Asia-Pacific as well as the global aviation market, which has a far-reaching significance to both parties".
The event in Shanghai was also attended by the cargo associates of MASkargo based in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
About Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines (malaysiaairlines.com), the national carrier of Malaysia connects some 40,000 passengers daily to some 80 destinations worldwide across 6 continents.
The distinctive Malaysia Airlines brand is an extension of the special culture of warmth and friendliness unique to Malaysians. This inimitable Malaysian sense of graciousness is branded as "Malaysian Hospitality" and symbolized by the acronym MH which is also the airline's flight code.
Malaysia Airlines holds a lengthy record of service and best practices excellence and is also one of only 6 airlines worldwide to be accredited a "5-Star Airline" by Skytrax, an accomplishment it has achieved for 5 consecutive years, 2005-2009. It also recently won the "World's Best Cabin Staff" accolade by Skytrax for the sixth time since 2001.
About MASkargo
Malaysia Airlines Cargo Sdn Bhd (MASkargo), the air cargo division of Malaysia Airlines, operates four B747-200 and two B747-400 freighters covering the world's major cargo hubs. It also offers belly space capacity on Malaysia Airlines passenger fleet serving almost 100 destinations worldwide.
At KLIA, its home base is the Advanced Cargo Centre, a 108-acre complex designed specially for MASkargo's sophisticated state-of-the-art cargo handling facilities and recognized as major regional cargo hub.
Malaysia Airlines Cargo was selected to host the Air Cargo Forum, the largest air cargo industry gathering in the world in 2008 after winning the bid against Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Osaka and Melbourne. The event will be held in Kuala Lumpur from 4 to 6 November 2008 and is expected to be attended by some 5,000 senior executives from various airlines, freight forwarders, shippers, airport management, ground handling agents, trucking companies, technology and equipment providers and the media.
About HNA Group
HNA Group is a large corporation with the air transportation as core business and covering other industries of tourism & service, airport management, logistics, hotel management, retailing, finance and other related businesses.
In retrospect, HNA Group has been in operation for the past 14 years. During this time, they have become a large-scale enterprise group with diverse businesses from the predecessor Hainan Provincial Airlines Company.
After nine years, HNA Group has become a diversified corporation with eight business units from its original single air transportation; Grand China Air, HNA Tourism Holding Group, HNA Airport Group, Grand China Logistics Holding Co. Ltd., HNA Commerce Industry, HNA Finance Company Ltd., HNA Aviation Import and Export Company Ltd. and HNA Systems Company Ltd.
Media Inquiries:
Anita Kushairy
Manager Corporate Communications
Phone::+603.03.8777.2037/+6012.296.8424
Fax: +603.8783.3031
Email: anita@malaysiaairlines.com | Hou Bo
Air Business Manager
Phone: +86.89866739745
Fax: +86.66739798
Email: houbo@hnair.com |
For more information about MASkargo, please visit our website at www.maskargo.com
For more information about HNA Group, please visit www.hnagroup.com
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