KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines may be sold or shut down, Malaysia’s leader said Tuesday, the latest bad news for a carrier that has been in crisis since suffering the loss of two planes.
The 71-year-old airline has been on the ropes since 2014 when Flight MH370 disappeared and MH17 was shot down by a Russian-made missile over war-torn Ukraine.
With the carrier teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, sovereign wealth fund Khazanah stepped in to take it over several years ago and major reforms were instituted, including cutting thousands of staff.
But it has continued to fare poorly and its performance was blamed in large part for a set of poor financial results released by Khazanah last week.
Responding to questions about the airline’s future, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad told reporters in parliament: “I think it is a very serious matter, to shut down the national airline.
“We will nevertheless be studying and investigating as to whether we should shut it down or we should sell it off or we should refinance it.”
Official news agency Bernama reported that Khazanah last week posted a pre-tax loss of 6.3 billion ringgit ($1.54 billion) for 2018, compared with a pre-tax profit of 2.9 billion ringgit the year before.
Mahathir, 93 and in his second stint as premier, is seeking to reduce a mammoth national debt inherited from the previous, corruption-plagued regime.
Malaysia Airlines said in a statement it had been “working closely” with Khazanah on the next phase of its turnaround plan since September.
The disappearance of Flight MH370, which was carrying 239 people, remains one of the world’s greatest aviation mysteries, and successive searches have failed to find the plane.
Malaysia Airlines could be sold or shut down, says PM
Malaysia Airlines could be sold or shut down, says PM
- Mahathir Mohamad: We will be studying and investigating as to whether we should shut it down or we should sell it off or we should refinance it
- Mahathir, 93 and in his second stint as premier, is seeking to reduce a mammoth national debt inherited from the previous, corruption-plagued regime
King Abdulaziz Airport among world’s busiest after record-breaking 2025
RIYADH: King Abdulaziz International Airport has achieved a new historical milestone, reaching 53.4 million passengers in a single year.
This is the highest number ever recorded at a Saudi airport since the beginning of air travel in the Kingdom, placing it among the world’s mega airports in terms of passenger traffic, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The airport handled a total of 310,000 flights and 60.4 million bags, representing a 12 percent increase compared to 2024. It also handled 9.57 million Zamzam water containers and 2,968 cargo flights.
This achievement reflects the airport’s qualitative transformation and its position as a regional hub and national gateway connecting the Kingdom to the world. It also highlights its role in facilitating the movement of visitors and pilgrims, promoting tourism in line with the goals of Vision 2030, diversifying the economy, and providing a distinguished travel experience.
For his part, CEO of Jeddah Airports Co. Mazen Johar, affirmed that reaching 53.4 million passengers confirms the airport’s high operational readiness and represents a pivotal milestone for moving to the next phase, in preparation for doubling this number, God willing, in the coming years.
He pointed out that this national achievement would not have been possible without the grace of God Almighty, followed by the directives of the wise leadership and the continuous follow-up from the minister of transport and logistics, the president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, and the CEO of Airports Holding Co.
He explained that King Abdulaziz International Airport is strengthening its position as a major aviation hub in the region through expansions, increased capacity, and improved services, supporting the objectives of the aviation program and aligning with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
The CEO of Jeddah Airports Co. expressed his gratitude to the partners in success from various government and private sectors for their fruitful cooperation through a collaborative work system that contributed to providing the best services.
