KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Aviation Group obtained court approval in Britain on Monday for a deal between its leasing unit and a majority of its aircraft operating lessors, allowing it to begin a restructuring plan with new capital of RM3.6 billion (US$891 million).
MAG, parent of Malaysia Airlines, mentioned the scheme received unanimous support of relevant lessors and represented a key component of a wider restructuring which will help to reduce its liabilities of more than RM15 billion.
“Now that the scheme has been formally sanctioned by the UK court, the airline can proceed to implement its restructuring plan with the assist of its sole shareholder, Khazanah Nasional Bhd and present stakeholders,” the group mentioned in a statement.
The restructuring marks a step ahead for the company which has long been burdened with high costs and more recently the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
Khazanah Nasional, also Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund, might be committing the new capital of RM3.6 billion to the group to fund the business throughout 2025.
MAG mentioned under the restructuring, expected to complete in early March, the airline will strike bilateral agreements with finance lessors, spare engine lessors, upkeep service providers, corporate lenders, and government-related entities.
“Operating lessors have continued to assist the airline with a reset of lease rates to market and deferrals,” it mentioned.
It mentioned it has also taken steps to assist it via the COVID-19 crisis through network cuts, structural cost savings, cash conservation and payment deferral initiatives amounting to RM5.5 billion in 2020, with a target of RM397 million for the first quarter this yr.
Group Chief Govt Izham Ismail mentioned MAG is shifting priorities regarding different business segments and subsidiaries in its portfolio in order to set itself up as a global travel group.
“We seek to expand MAG’s involvement into other travel-related products and services beyond flights, which will go a long way in helping our customers complete their end-to-end travel experience,” he mentioned.
