Firefly gets 20 new aircraft

For a prosperous 2013: Ong at the event to announce Firefly’s plans for this year and the launch of its new uniform.

Short-haul carrier Firefly recently announced plans to acquire 20 brand new aircraft as part of this year’s fleet expansion.

Firefly chief operating officer Ignatius Ong said the ATR 72 600 aircraft would be obtained in stages, with the first two coming in in June. “Currently, we are operating a fleet of 12 ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft out of Penang and Subang.

“This step (buying new aircraft) is one of our main moves to enhance service and give passengers more destinations and higher flight frequency. “We really hope we can get the aircraft maker to deliver on time as we are eager to serve travellers better,” said Ong.

He added that the airline had recently increased frequency for the Subang-Johor flight from 28 a week to 35 as response was encouraging and the demand strong. Ong said Firefly saw a 20% growth in sales last year, having flown 1.7mil passengers during the period.

Firefly also unveiled its latest cabin crew uniform — an orange dress with a slim belt and a scarf for flight attendants and a grey dress and similar accessories for cabin supervisors, giving a contemporary feel.

Ong said it was the perfect time to unveil a new uniform. “The Chinese New Year season is the best time because of the tradition of wearing new clothes during the celebration.

“The new design is chic and exudes professionalism while the orange colour symbolises prosperity,” said Ong, adding that the design for the uniform was the idea of the company’s creative team. He added that the new look was part of the airline’s continuous effort to enhance the Firefly brand and provide passengers commendable service with fresh vibes.

Also, in conjunction with the launch of the new uniform, Firefly is holding a month-long campaign called “Get Candid and Win” until March 8.

Participants are required to snap a sassy and playful shot with Firefly’s cabin crew and post it on the airline’s Facebook page. The most creative photo with the best caption will win attractive prizes.

-thestar online.