Does Malaysia need a national airline?

MALAYSIA Airlines (MAS) is once again in the centre of a maelstrom following the departure of Peter Bellew, its second expatriate chief executive in as many years.

The airline has had a chequered past, marked by persistent losses (over RM20 billion, or S$6 billion, in two decades), mismanagement and more recently the loss of over 500 lives on board two of its aircraft.

In view of the debate currently raging in Malaysia over the future of MAS, which unfortunately has spilled into the political arena, it is timely to ask if some countries actually need a national airline.