Rivals MAS and AirAsia Group undergo reboots to survive

Kuala Lumpur

EVEN as Malaysia Airlines (MAS) works to untangle itself from the legacy issues that have grounded its economic takeoff for the better part of two decades, its main rival AirAsia Group is bending under the weight of competition in an over-served market.

MAS under its new chief Christoph Mueller is rationalising unprofitable routes, and four destinations have been axed; 6,000 jobs will also be cut, with an eye on making the revamped entity, Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB), profitable in three to four years.