Malaysia Airlines to be taken private ahead of revamp

FE Team | Published: August 09, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (AFP): Deeply troubled Malaysia Airlines will be de-listed and taken private ahead of a major restructuring following the double disasters of MH370 and MH17, under a proposal announced Friday by its majority shareholder.
State investment vehicle Khazanah Nasional, which owns 70 per cent of the flag-carrier, said it would purchase all minority shares and finalise a restructuring plan by the end of the month.
The move confirmed growing speculation that Khazanah planned to completely take over Malaysia Airlines to strengthen its hand in addressing the free-falling carrier's mounting problems.
Khazanah said all stakeholders will need to work together to save the company via a "complete overhaul of the national carrier on all relevant aspects ... (including) the airline's operations, business model, finances, human capital and regulatory environment."
"Nothing less will be required in order to revive our national airline to be profitable as a commercial entity and to serve its function as a critical national development entity," it said.
Malaysia Airlines has reeled from years of financial losses and its survival is now seen as in peril following this year's air catastrophes.
Flight MH370 disappeared mysteriously in March with 239 people aboard, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. No trace has been found and the airline was widely criticised for its handling of the crisis.