Firefly lowers passenger target for 2017 to 1.6 mln

SUBANG JAYA: Firefly Airlines has lowered the passenger target for 2017 to 1.6 million from 1.7 million last year due to lower demand and increased operational costs on the back of a softer ringgit.

Chief executive officer Ignatius Ong said although the ringgit’s depreciation was good in attracting foreign customers into Malaysia, it also needed to allow Malaysians to travel abroad to places as Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.

“The market has to work both ways.

“It is not cheap for families to go on holiday to neighbouring countries.

“Furthermore, we have experienced a 30 per cent increase in our overall costs, which has affected some of our transactions denominated in the US dollar,” he added.

Ong told the media this at the launch of the FY e-wallet with Firefly Airlines campaign here today.

He said the company has already cut capacity by six aircraft last year to a total of 12 as the load factor was only reaching about 60 per cent.

“When we see an increase in demand of 70 to 75 per cent in our load factor, we may then press one or two more aircraft into operation,” he added.

Ong also hoped for the ringgit’s value to strengthen to a sustainable level.

Meanwhile, he said the FY ewallet is a cashless convenience that allows travellers to purchase tickets with Firefly anytime, quicker and easier.

“Travelers need not worry about unsuccessful transactions when utilising debit or credit cards.

“They will also get an additional bonus amount of up to 25 per cent based on their purchase category of RM1,000, RM5,000 or RM10,000.

The amount validity is three months for the RM1,000 deposit and six months for the balance,” he said.

Ong said the FY e- wallet is targeted to achieve sales of between RM10 million- RM15 million from registered members which currently number close to 500,000.

The FY e-wallet which had its soft launch in mid-December last year, has currently achieved sales of about RM1 million.

Firely is Malaysia’s premium short-haul airline which began operations in April 2007.

For more information on the latest products and services of Firefly Airlines, log on to www. fireflyz.com.my. — Bernama