Bayu Air to recruit former MAS staff

Bayu Air, which is scheduled to begin flight operations in August, will be recruiting former Malaysia Airlines (MAS) staff. Chief executive officer Mohd Saifulrizal Raffien said Bayu Air would provide job opportunities in the aviation industry, including for 100 ex-MAS crew members and 25 ex-pilots who had lost their jobs. MAS retrenched 6,000 employees in August last year as part of a restructuring plan to cut down its losses. Speaking at the pre-launch of Bayu Air flight operations today, Saifulrizal said three Boeing 777-200s would be used for the first phase of the airline's flight operations to Jeddah and Madinah as well as on routes to China. Bayu Air, owned by Bayu Mutiara Skyways Sdn Bhd, was set up in 2014 and is based in Cyberjaya with 300 staff. Meanwhile, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said the government fully supported efforts by Bayu Air to promote the Bumiputera economy. "I am also attracted by Bayu Air concept which showcased local small and medium enterprise products as this would give a huge impact to the industry," he said. Hamzah's speech was read by his political secretary, Faizul Arby Mohd Shohor. – Bernama, February 16, 2016.]]>