KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Aviation Group's (MAG) subsidiary Firefly Airlines will add narrow-body jets to its fleet in phases, following its preparatory flight from Penang International Airport to Senai International Airport earlier today.
The premium short-haul airline said flight FY2904 departed at 2.00pm and arrived safely at 3.15pm.
Firefly said the additional jets would serve the domestic, Asean and Asia Pacific markets out of Penang.
Firefly said it had planned the execution in consideration of the on-going pandemic after announcing the jet services in mid-December 2020.
The airline, which operates turboprop, reportedly said it would add up to 10 narrow-body jets to its fleet.
Firefly said every step taken in the planning was done with safety and wellbeing of passengers and the airline staff continuously in mind.
Firefly chief executive officer Philip See said the airline, together with Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd and Skypark, had put in place health and safety protocols to safeguard its passengers, flight crew and staff.
"These include temperature check via the thermal imaging scanner, digital contact tracing, social distancing when queuing and at the seating area, contactless check-in and boarding," he said in a statement today.
Having flights from as low as RM69 with free 20kg baggage allowance, he said the offer would be more comfortable on the student's wallets.
The recent announcement from the National Security Council to allow students from the higher learning institutions to return home during Hari Raya this year had brought the airline to facilitate student movement.
Firefly has rolled out a special fare promotion to ease the burden of students who needs to travel back home by prioritising on health and safety.
It conducted aircraft cabin disinfection, sanitisation and thorough cleaning of the surfaces including seats, floors, armrests, tray tables, overhead luggage bins, walls and lavatory.
Additionally, Fireflyz in-flight magazine has also been removed to avoid any cross-contamination.
Firefly, which began its operation in April 2007, is one of the carriers that operate a fleet of ATR 72-500 turboprops connecting various destination points within Malaysia, Singapore, southern Thailand and Sumatera in Indonesia, while aligning with the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle agenda.