Malaysia Airlines farewells SA

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has decided to close its Adelaide call centre before the end of this month, leaving 32 staff members without jobs.

Having opened its operations in August 2000, the call centre managed all Australian and New Zealand calls for the carrier.

During the airlines peak the call centre employed over 60 staff, however according to an employee, staff numbers had dropped since the State Government subsidy ended two years ago.

“Since then, every time someone has left, they have never been replaced,” the staff member said.

“We have about 10 contractors but three months ago they were marched out the door.

“We have been told the calls will be cut off (here) on July 27 and everything will be transferred to Malaysia.”

A State Government spokesperson said there was no need for the government to reconsider its approach because the airline had fulfilled its part of the deal.

“Malaysia Airlines did receive government assistance to help the company set up a call centre in South Australia and the terms of the initial agreement have been fulfilled and Malaysia Airlines has made its own business decision,” the spokesperson said.
“At the same time Malaysia Airlines showed its faith in the South Australian tourism market in March 2011 by increasing the number of weekly direct flights to Adelaide from four to six” He added.

Source - etravelblackboardasia