Publication: The New Straits Times

Publication Date: Wednesday, 27 January 2010

Author: Gerald Chuah

Section: Other

Page: 1

FIREFLY launched the Firefly Mobile Application on Thursday (Jan 21) – a new and convenient option to book flights anytime, anywhere via mobile phone.

Firefly Head of Marketing and Communications Angelina Fernandez said during the launch: “Making a reservation is now possible via a mobile phone.

Offering convenience to our passengers has always been our top priority, and this marks our first step in providing a comprehensive online experience via mobile phone”

She added: Survey shows 65% of sales are done via Firefly website and 70% of Firefly’s passengers are from the professional to middle management level, who are always on the move, hence Firefly mobile booking will increase their travel flexibility.

“We have experienced exponential growth in mobile lifestyle over the last few years and Firefly is proud to enhance our representation on these devices”.

Booking flights via mobile phones is an additional channel apart from the current distribution methods in use: via Firefly website, ticketing agents, call centre, airport and ticket offices in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia; as well as Malaysia Airlines ticketing offices worldwide”

The Firefly Mobile Application is a FREE application that works with mobile phone that support JAVA application and Blackberry, and with WAP, GPRS, EDGE or 3G data connections. Phone and Windows Mobile versions will be available soon).

The system is jointly developed by Firefly and Second Wind Sdn Bhd. Firefly customers just need to register their mobile phones online at Firefly’s website, download the mobile application, and launch it on their mobile phone and start booking.

Booking a flight is now as easy as the Internet booking process as fewer data inputs is required:

Steps:

1. Launch Firefly Mobile Application in your mobile phone.

2. Select Book Flights from the Main Menu.

3. Select your trip itinerary.

4. Verify the traveler’s information.

5. Confirm the price.

6. Enter your credit card CVV number and PIN code.

7. The system will display the Booking PNR (confirmation code).

To register and download the new application visit http://www.fireflyz.com.my/mobile, and watch promotional videos too. Fernandez said: “The introduction of Firefly Mobile is only the beginning. There will be many more soon. “With this service, customers will have a new convenient option to book flights with a unique and simplified payment process at a click of a button or just the touch of the screen”. After the completion of our routes expansion in 2009, our focus is now to enhance and offer more convenience and distribution methods to our passengers.

RM1 fare

In conjunction with the launch, Firefly is also offering RM1 fare for all flight bookings done via mobile phone effective Jan 21 to 28, 2010. You stand a chance to win two tickets to Ko Samui if you are the “biggest spender’ for your mobile booking during this promotional period.

Firefly, the country’s only community airline, which has been in service for three years, offer customers a hassle-free and comfortable traveling experience. There are premium leather seats and plenty of legroom.

Firefly currently serves six cities in four countries. Based in Subang and Penang, it currently operates more than 70 flights a day.

For more info, visit FlyFirefly Sdn. Bhd. at 3rd Floor, Admin Building 1, MAS Complex A, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang, Selangor. Call 03-7840 4106, or fax: 03- 7846 6461.

Subang, 14 Jan 2010 – Firefly is picking up its new year’s pace from where it left last year by increasing the frequency of flights from Subang to Singapore to cater to the current high demand on that route. 

The new 5th frequency flight is now open for sale and the service will commence
from 28 March 2010, Firefly said in a statement today.

To celebrate the added frequency, Firefly is offering a promotional fare from
Subang to Singapore, from as low as RM100.

The current promotion also covers flights to all destinations from as low as RM50 and RM100 for domestic and international travels respectively. The special fare offer runs from now until Jan 21 for the travel period from Jan 21 to Oct 30 2010. 

Promotional seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served
basis, and made exclusively online via www.fireflyz.com.

“High loads and strong demand for this route have encouraged us to add our fifth frequency flight,” said Firefly’s head of Marketing and Communications, Angelina Fernandez. 

Firefly anticipates to carry 1.3 million passengers by the year end.

Angelina emphasized that, “Firefly currently operates four daily flights to Singapore. We began our inaugural Singapore-Subang route with three flights daily effective July 1 in 2009, and subsequently a fourth frequency was added on July 12. This additional flight into Singapore further strengthens Firefly’s stronghold on commuters travelling for business and leisure on this route. Moreover, the high demand is an indication that travel has picked up significantly, and we are extremely pleased to be able to provide customers with more convenience and travel options.”

She further stressed the benefits of flying with Firefly whereby passengers have the convenience of flying from Skypark Subang, a city airport where their check-in process is completely hassle-free. Additionally, Firefly offers at no extra cost added values such as 20 kg of free check-in baggage allowance, assigned seating, and in-flight complimentary refreshment with snacks.

Flight schedule on Subang/Singapore/Subang route:

**5th frequency flight Singapore/Subang/Singapore effective 28th March 2010

COMMUNITY airline Firefly may take delivery of three new planes this year as demand for travel could recover.

 The three planes were supposed to arrive last year but were deferred as a recession took its toll on business.

 FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Eddy Leong said the airline will make a decision by the end of February.

“Subject to the delivery of the three additional aircraft, we will review the reinstatement of some suspended flights such as Kota Baru-Penang,” he told Business Times yesterday.

Last year, Firefly announced the suspension of several flights operating out of the Penang International Airport.

They included flights from Penang to Kuala Terengganu, Kota Baru, Koh Samui and Kuantan. Firefly had also suspended its Subang- Phuket flight.

Firefly now has seven ATR 72-500s.

 ”We are also looking at introducing the Subang-Hatyai route,” he said, adding that Firefly has not initiated any traffic right applications to fly the proposed route and is currently at market research stage.

On plans for more flights into Singapore this year, Leong said: “We continue to work with the Kedah and Kelantan state governments to commence direct flights to Singapore, and much of which depends on refuelling facilities at the Alor Setar and Kota Baru airports”. Firefly also plans to start a second daily flight from Ipoh to Singapore.

When asked on the outlook of the aviation industry this year and how Firefly is expected to fare, Leong said: “Most industry players and observers expect 2010 to be more stable than 2009, although we may not necessarily see a drastic upswing.

“This is due to fuel cost which has been steadily rising since the last vertical dip to record lows, and we are viewing this with caution”.

 Firefly will continue to strengthen its position as a community airline, focusing on commuter traffic and connecting secondary cities and towns.

“Our inbound marketing efforts via code-share with MAS are beginning to show very positive results and we will push our yield and seat factor higher this year.”