Double Disasters Prompt Malaysia Airlines Crew to Resign
27 August 2014 11:26 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Kuala Lumpur - Approximately 200 cabin crew resigned from Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAS) following the double tragedies that befell MH17 and MH370 this year. Abdul Malek Ariff, secretary-general of MAS' employees union, said the resignation left the airline with 3,000 cabin crew.
"Some employees are now afraid to fly," Ariff told the Edge Financial Daily yesterday. He also said also said crew shortages forces staff to work up to 12 hours a day. The union represents around 8,000 employees of MAS' 19,500 workforce.
The flag carrier's management said many employees cited 'family pressure' for their resignations following the disappearance of flight MH370 on March 8 and the shooting down of MH17 on July 17 by Ukraine rebels. The two aviation tragedies killed 537 people including 27 crewmembers.
The carrier said it provides emotional and psychological support to its staff. Currently, the ratio of employee's resignation in Malaysia Airline is at less than five percent, still below the industry level.
The airline posted a loss of US$1.3 billion in the last three years prior to the double tragedies. In the first quarter of 2014, the carrier lost RM443 million (US$137 million) due to a declining number of passengers.
Malaysian state investment fund Khazanah Nasional Berhad, which is also the majority shareholder of Malaysia Airlines, is expected to announce the replacement of Malaysia Airlines' CEO along with some overhauls in the company's management on August 28.
CHANNEL NEWS ASIA | REUTERS | ROSALINA | ABDUL MALIK