Firefly (airline)

Low-cost airline of Malaysia

For other uses, see Firefly (disambiguation).

Flyfirefly Sdn Bhd

| IATA | ICAO | Call sign

|
|

FY  | FFM  | FIREFLY
Founded| 16 March 2007; 17 years ago (2007-03-16)
Commenced operations| 3 April 2007; 17 years ago (2007-04-03)
Hubs|

* Kuala Lumpur–Subang
* Penang

Secondary hubs| Kota Kinabalu
Fleet size| 15
Destinations| 12
Parent company| Malaysia Airlines
Headquarters| Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Website| www.fireflyz.com.my

Firefly (stylised as firefly) is a low-cost airline subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines that offers flights within Malaysia, as well as to Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. [1] Firefly operates from its main hub at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang and Penang International Airport, as well as its secondary hub at Kota Kinabalu International Airport. The airline's first flight was on 3 April 2007, from Penang to Kota Bharu. The company slogan is Beyond Convenience.

## Development and expansion

[edit]

Firefly offers domestic flights from Penang to Langkawi, Kota Bharu, Subang, and to the international destinations Changi in Singapore, Banda Aceh in Indonesia, and Phuket and Suvarnabhumi in Thailand. Its flights from Subang serve Penang, Langkawi, Alor Setar, Johor Bahru, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bharu and Seletar and Changi in Singapore.

The airline briefly operated jet aircraft in 2011, offering flights to Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Sandakan and Sibu from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and internationally to Bandung and Surabaya via Johor Bahru. Acting as a low-cost arm for Malaysia Airlines, the airline planned to include destinations in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, China, India and Taiwan by 2015.[2]

Domestically, the airline previously served an extensive intra-peninsula connection from its turboprop secondary hub in Penang and Johor Bahru to most major cities in Peninsular Malaysia. Nonetheless, following the major restructuring of the company, the airline decided to axe its jet operations by the end of 2011 and halt its planned turboprop expansion to Bangkok–Don Mueang (via Kota Bharu),[3] Bengkulu, Jambi and Pangkal Pinang.

Firefly operates scheduled passenger flights from Singapore's Seletar Airport since 2019 and Changi Airport since March 2023, flying to its Subang hub using turboprop aircraft.[4][5] In the same year, the airline announced its interest to commence a new operation to Betong Airport in Thailand from Kuala Lumpur-Subang.[6][7][8]

In October 2020, the company has announced the resumption of its jet service from January 2021. Concentrating secondary routes from Penang International Airport, the airline selected Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Johor Bahru as its pioneer destinations. In March 2022, Firefly announced that they will be flying from Penang to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching using their B737-800 aircraft starting April 2022. On 11 April 2022, Firefly had its B737-800 inaugural passenger flight from Johor to Penang.

Other than that, Firefly said they also have plans to make Kota Kinabalu International Airport their secondary hub by 2023.[9]

From May 2023, Firefly has begun to operate intra-Borneo jet services previously operated by its parent company Malaysia Airlines. Flights from Kota Kinabalu to Kuching, Tawau and Sandakan will be operated by their fleet of single-class B737-800s, with frequencies all increasing to once-daily return services (from 2-5x weekly before).[10] The move is believed to be part of efforts to counter the dominant position held by low-cost carrier AirAsia.[11]

The airline has codeshare services with its parent Malaysia Airlines with capability to collect Enrich frequent flyer points along with MH Flypas being redeemable on selected firefly flights.[12]

## Destinations

[edit]

As of September 2024, Firefly have served these following destinations:

Country  | City  | Airport  | Notes  | Refs

|
|
|
|

China | Chengdu | Chengdu Tianfu International Airport | Charter  |
Chongqing | Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport | Charter | [13]
Haikou | Haikou Meilan International Airport |  | [14]
Nanjing | Nanjing Lukou International Airport | Charter | [15]
Indonesia | Banda Aceh | Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport |  |
Bandung | Husein Sastranegara Airport | Terminated |
Batam | Hang Nadim International Airport | Terminated |
Medan | Kualanamu International Airport | Terminated |
Padang | Minangkabau International Airport | Terminated |
Pekanbaru | Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport | Terminated |
Macau | Macau | Macau International Airport |  | [16]
Malaysia | Alor Setar | Sultan Abdul Halim Airport |  |
Ipoh | Sultan Azlan Shah Airport | Terminated |
Johor Bahru | Senai International Airport |  | [17][18][19]
Kerteh | Kerteh Airport | Terminated |
Kota Bharu | Sultan Ismail Petra Airport |  | [20]
Kota Kinabalu | Kota Kinabalu International Airport | Secondary hub |
Kuala Lumpur | Kuala Lumpur International Airport |  |
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport | Hub | [21]
Kuala Terengganu | Sultan Mahmud Airport |  |
Kuantan | Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport | Terminated | [22]
Kuching | Kuching International Airport |  |
Langkawi | Langkawi International Airport |  |
Malacca | Malacca International Airport | Terminated |
Miri | Miri Airport |  |
Penang | Penang International Airport | Hub |
Sandakan | Sandakan Airport |  |
Sibu | Sibu Airport | Terminated |
Tawau | Tawau Airport |  |
Singapore | Singapore | Changi Airport |  | [23]
Seletar Airport |  |
Thailand | Bangkok | Don Mueang International Airport | Terminated |
Suvarnabhumi Airport |  |
Hat Yai | Hat Yai International Airport | Terminated |
Hua Hin | Hua Hin Airport | Terminated |
Koh Samui | Samui Airport | Terminated |
Krabi | Krabi International Airport | Terminated |
Phuket | Phuket International Airport |  |

### Codeshare agreements

[edit]

Firefly has codeshare agreements with these airlines:

* Malaysia Airlines[24]
* MASWings[25]

## Fleet

[edit]

### Current fleet

[edit]

As of July 2024[update], Firefly operates the following aircraft:[26]

Firefly's current livery on the Boeing 737-800 Firefly fleet  Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes

|
|
|
|

ATR 72-500 | 9  | -- | 72  |
Boeing 737-800 | 5  | 3  | 189  | Transferred from Malaysia Airlines.
Total  | 14  | 3  |  |

### Cabin

[edit]

Firefly current seat installed on the Boeing 737-800

Firefly ATR-72 cabin seat is equipped with very basic legroom pitch of 30inch. On the Boeing 737-800 firefly has introduced slimline seats of the Safran z110i and comes equipped with USB A and C charging ports.

### Former fleet

[edit]

Former Firefly 9M-FZA Boeing 737-400 Firefly former fleet  Aircraft  | Total  | Introduced  | Retired  | Notes

|
|
|
|

ATR 72-500 | 3  | 2008  | 2020  |
ATR 72-600 | 8  | 2013  | 2016  |
Boeing 737-400 | 2  | 2011  | 2014  |
Boeing 737-800 | 6  | 2011  | 2011  |
Fokker 50 | 3  | 2007  | 2009  |

### Fleet history

[edit]

Firefly ATR 72-500 Former Firefly Boeing 737-800

A revival of the airline's route was commenced in 2021, now operated via Penang International Airport as its main hub.

Firefly started operations with two 50-seater Fokker 50 aircraft. It also took delivery of a third leased Fokker 50 aircraft to expand its services.

On 26 June 2007, Malaysia Airlines signed an agreement for the acquisition of ten ATR 72-500 aircraft with options for ten more (which was exercised), to replace the Fokker 50s.[27] The aircraft started to arrive from 11 August 2008,[28] with five delivered in 2008, five in 2009, four in 2010 and the rest in 2011.[29] All Fokker F50s retired by the end of 2008.

On 25 August 2010, Firefly announced that it would take up four ATR 72s in the option clause of the purchase agreement.[30] On 8 November 2010, Firefly announced an order for 30 Boeing 737-800 aircraft from year-end to 2015 as part of its expansion into east Malaysia initially, and into regional markets in the future. Firefly's first Boeing 737-800 arrived in December 2010 and began its operations on 15 January 2011.[31][32]

On 16 August 2011, Firefly announced that it would only operate the ATR aircraft from Subang and Penang, and cease its Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737-400 flights.[33] Jet operations were discontinued in accordance with a restructuring-of-services agreement made between Malaysia Airlines (Firefly's parent company) and AirAsia. On 16 September 2011, Firefly ceased the Johor Bahru – Kuching route. Other Boeing 737 services, including Kuala Lumpur – Kuching, Kuala Lumpur – Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur – Jakarta, were transferred to Malaysia Airlines in October 2011.[34] Its two remaining Boeing 737-400 were instead kept under its charter division until 2014.[35][36]

On 18 December 2012, MASwings' parent company, Malaysia Airlines, ordered 36 ATR 72-600s for its subsidiaries. Twenty of the ordered aircraft will be delivered to Firefly while the remaining sixteen will enter service with MASwings. However with the ongoing contract dispute with the Ministry of transport Malaysia and MASwings on the usage of the new aircraft for RAS subsidies along with the financial turmoil parent company Malaysia Airlines was facing in 2015, subsequent pending deliveries for the ATR72-600 were halted and cancelled. Firefly also retired all eight of its newly delivered ATR72-600 by 2016 as most of its expansion plans were put on hold.[37]

In October 2020, the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) announced that the airline would recommence its jet operations in the first quarter of 2021. There will be ten jets in the fleet.[38]

In April 2022, Firefly resumed jet aircraft operation with the Boeing 737-800 and has set up Penang and Kota Kinabalu to be their hub of operation for the aircraft fleet.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Contact Info Archived 14 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine." Firefly. Retrieved on 21 April 2016. "Principal Office FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd, Lot R-01, 3rd Floor, CITTA Mall, No: 1, Jalan PJU 1A/48, Ara Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia."
2. ^ "Firefly embarks on 5-year expansion drive". Firefly. 24 August 2010. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
3. ^ "Kota Bahru BKK Flight Deferred". Firefly. 8 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
4. ^ "Seletar Airport Prepares for Turboprop Service". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
5. ^ "Singapore 2018: Seletar Airport set for turboprop move - Air & Cosmos - International". Air & Cosmos - International. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
6. ^ "Betong airport runway will be extended, says army chief". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
7. ^ "Three airlines eyeing Betong airport". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
8. ^ "Nok Air in talks with authorities on flights to Betong airport". The Nation (Thailand). 27 September 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
9. ^ "Firefly plans KK hub". Borneo Post Online. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
10. ^ "Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) Transfers Intra-Borneo Services to Firefly". www.malaysiaairlines.com. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
11. ^ Chua2023-04-12T03:21:00+01:00, Alfred. "Malaysia Airlines exits intra-east Malaysia operations in 'strategic' route rejig". Flight Global. Retrieved 22 June 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
12. ^ "MHflypass Malaysia By Malaysia Airlines is Now Available on Codeshare Firefly Flights". www.malaysiaairlines.com. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
13. ^ "FIREFLY SCHEDULES CHONGQING CHARTERS FROM JULY 2024". Retrieved 9 July 2024.
14. ^ "FIREFLY SCHEDULES KUALA LUMPUR – HAIKOU FROM MID-JUNE 2024". AeroRoutes. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
15. ^ "Fireflyz Tawau-Nanjing Charter flight". Trip.Com. 26 November 2023.
16. ^ "Firefly adds Tawau – Macau from July 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
17. ^ "New Kota Bharu to JB Connections | Firefly Airline". www.fireflyz.com.my. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
18. ^ SiennyLovesDrawing (20 November 2019). "Firefly Airlines Expands Its Network Route Directly Connecting Johor Bahru & Kota Bharu". Medium. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
19. ^ "Fabulous Cats Performs at Senai Airport | Firefly Airline". Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
20. ^ "New Kota Bharu to JB Connections | Firefly Airline". Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
21. ^ "Fabulous Cats Performs At Senai Airport | Firefly Airline". www.fireflyz.com.my. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
22. ^ "Firefly tentatively resumes Penang-Kuantan in NS24". AeroRoutes. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
23. ^ "Firefly to launch flights from Penang to Changi Airport on March 26 |". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
24. ^ "Firefly expands codeshare with Malaysia Airlines".
25. ^ "Firefly and MASWings begins codeshare".
26. ^ "Firefly Fleet Details and History". planespotters.net. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
27. ^ "MAS inks RM62m deal". Archived from the original on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
28. ^ "Firefly - Get to Know Our Fleet". fireflyz.com.my. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
29. ^ "Positioning itself - Carving out its own seat". Archived from the original on 22 May 2011.
30. ^ Marina Emmunuel. "Firefly to double ATR fleet to fuel expansion". Business Times Malaysia. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
31. ^ "Firefly expands with 737-800". Firefly (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
32. ^ Jeeva. "Firefly plans to expand services and take up 30 B737-800s". The Star (Malaysia).
33. ^ Firefly to only run turboprop planes Archived 26 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine The Sun Daily
34. ^ flyfireflyz (16 September 2011). "NEWS: FireFly starts cancelling routes to Sarawak".
35. ^ "Firefly has commenced a new charter flight to the city of Nanning, in southern China's Guangxi region". 22 April 2012.
36. ^ "Firefly offers direct Kuala Lumpur-Haikou connections via charter division". 27 November 2012.
37. ^ "Firefly revamps to get through tough times". 30 December 2016.
38. ^ "Firefly reverts to jet operations amid broad restructuring".

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Karim, F.N., "Firefly to start services April 2", Business Times, 15 March 2006
* Yeow, J. & Francis, I., "MAS to launch Firefly", The Sun, 15 March 2006

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Firefly (airline) at Wikimedia Commons

* Official website Archived 3 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine

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