When you get on board one of Firefly’s Folker Aircraft in Penang to take the short hop over the Andaman Sea to Langkawi, you may not feel like you’re getting aboard a larger more comfortable jet but, hey, that’s not the point, according to Eddy Leong, Firefly’s up-and-coming Managing Director.

The Firefly story is an interesting East Malaysia Story and marks Malaysia Airline’s first foray into the creation of a low-cost airline.

The idea to create Firefly sprang from a surplus of Folker Aircraft, idle on the tarmac in Sarawak and belonging to a defunct airline, which Malaysia Airlines took over late in 2006 and re-branded as MAS Wings. With a fleet of over ten aircraft, Idris Jala, Malaysia Airlines super cost-cutter, huddled around the table with Eddy Leong trying to figure out what to do with three extra planes. “Why not start a new airline and base it in Penang?” This was the question that launched Firefly.

Well into 2008, Firefly not only serves Penang but also has flights out of Subang, Kuala Lumpur’s old international airport, to Langkawi and Penang.

With the convenient location of the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, the Klang Valley population now no longer has to travel the distance just to get to the airport for their short haul destinations. This cuts their travel time by almost half, explained Eddy Leong.

“We aim to minimize time and effort in traveling for our passengers. Due to Subang Airport’s convenient location, travelers need not worry about arrangements for expensive taxi rides to the airport, not to mention the one-hour ride just to catch their flight. You won’t be waking up in the wee hours just to get to the airport with Firefly. We really are bringing fun back into flying,”

Firefly has ambitious plans with new ATR aircraft on order to serve many new destinations in Malaysia and perhaps Indonesia and Southern Thailand, which are all possibly in the cards for the near future.
Bookings and enquiries can be made via Firefly’s website at www.fireflyz.com.my. ≤ the airport with Firefly. We really are bringing fun back into flying,”

Firefly has ambitious plans with new ATR aircraft on order to serve many new destinations in Malaysia and perhaps Indonesia and Southern Thailand, which are all possibly in the cards for the near future.
Bookings and enquiries can be made via Firefly’s website at www.fireflyz.com.my.