PETALING JAYA: Airlines have begun rehiring staff whose contracts have ended and “reactivating” those on furlough as Malaysia gets ready to reopen its international borders this Friday.

       The aviation sector was badly hit by the devastating Covid-19 pandemic, forcing airlines into financial difficulty.

       When contacted, an AirAsia spokesman said it will be reactivating 45% of its pilots who have been on furlough and 11% of its cabin crew whose contracts had ended – through the renewal of contracts.

       Since 2020, the airline has embarked on several exercises including retrenchment and putting staff on furlough so that the airline could remain afloat.

       “In preparation for the border reopening and international travel resumption, AirAsia Malaysia has reactivated 45% of pilots and 11% of cabin crew, and will continue to reactivate more flight crew in the coming months as we increase the flight capacity,” the spokesman said.

       According to reports, at least 2,000 employees of the low-cost carrier comprising mostly pilots were placed on furlough while the services of more than 2,000 staff were terminated.

       Capital A Bhd, formerly known as AirAsia Group Bhd, chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes had previously said that one of his priorities is to reinstate staff who had to be let go and those on furlough.

       Meanwhile, flag carrier Malaysia Airlines is rehiring cabin crew whose contracts ended in 2020-2021. The airline had imposed a salary cut.

       “For Malaysia Airlines, when the pandemic first took place in March 2020, the organisation offered unpaid leave and induced salary reduction of between 10% and 50% among employees to protect those in the lower income bracket, and to avoid job cuts,” it said.

       “Other than normal attrition and end of contract, there were no retrenchments imposed. Recently, we began to rehire cabin crew whose contracts ended in 2020-2021 and other operational employees at critical areas such as ground handlers,” it added.