# Just how screwed is Malaysia Airlines now? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 24, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413 "2014-03-24T02:33:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/21 "2014-03-26T02:45:33Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Well, their on-time departure record is intact. Yeah, but their _arrival time_ leaves a lot to be desired. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/22 "2014-03-26T03:49:58Z")
MA may need bailout: [http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/struggling-malaysia-airlines-may-need-government-bailout](http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/struggling-malaysia-airlines-may-need-government-bailout) Ok so maybe as bad as Qantas. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/23 "2014-03-27T20:59:00Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > MA may need bailout: [http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/struggling-malaysia-airlines-may-need-government-bailout](http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/struggling-malaysia-airlines-may-need-government-bailout) > > Ok so maybe as bad as Qantas. Malaysia airlines is about 70% state owned, I’m not sure bailout is the best word to use. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/24 "2014-07-20T07:45:21Z")
It goes from bad to worse. 300 more people have just had their lives tragically cut short on a Malaysia Airlines plane The Rebels/Russians are getting most of the heat from the destruction of MH17, but there are still many articles blaming Malaysia Airlines for flying through an active warzone. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/25 "2014-07-20T14:16:29Z")
To the OP: It’s not a “substandard airline.” The stats quoted by others above show this; and, I can tell you that my six flights with then over the past 7 years were all comfortable and with excellent service, and on time. But, yes, they were financially shaky before 370, more so after that incident (whatever it was!), and now after 012, public perception will surely hasten their demise. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/26 "2014-07-20T14:20:06Z")
[James Fallows of the NY Times on why not to blame Malaysia Airlines](http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/07/19/opinion/malaysia-airlines-flight-17-the-ukraine-wars-victim.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-top-span-region®ion=c-column-top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region&_r=1&referrer=) ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/27 "2014-07-20T14:31:27Z")
I don’t have data but pretty sure that the Malaysia China business is really suffering. Chinese blogs are highlighting that there were no Chinese nationals on flight 12 as Chinese have largely stopped flying Malaysia Air. The China route should be a very significant one for MA. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/28 "2014-07-20T15:08:46Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > The Rebels/Russians are getting most of the heat from the destruction of MH17, but there are still many articles blaming Malaysia Airlines for flying through an active warzone. American carriers weren’t banned from flying over the same region of Ukraine (although they were prohibited by the FAA from flying over the southern parts of the country) and Lufthansa, among other international carriers, flew over Ukraine. So I can’t see blaming Malaysia Airlines for doing something others did as well. Everyone expected that passenger jets at 33,000 feet would be safe. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/29 "2014-07-20T16:43:33Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > But, yes, they were financially shaky before 370, more so after that incident (whatever it was!), and now after 012, public perception will surely hasten their demise. > [@China\_Guy](#): > > Chinese blogs are highlighting that there were no Chinese nationals on flight 12 as Chinese have largely stopped flying Malaysia Air. Nitpick: It was flight 17 that got shot down, not flight 12. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/30 "2014-07-20T16:54:37Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Nitpick: It was flight 17 that got shot down, not flight 12. Well, you know what I mean. Way beyond compare. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/31 "2014-07-20T17:02:20Z")
Well, it _is_ Malaysia Airlines. People may think a Flight 12 crashed just because someone forgot to jiggle the toilet handle or something. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/32 "2014-07-20T23:17:58Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Well, it _is_ Malaysia Airlines. People may think a Flight 12 crashed just because someone forgot to jiggle the toilet handle or something. MH has a good reputation for safety and service, as others have noted. We’re not talking about Air Koryo here. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/33 "2014-07-21T05:18:10Z")
MH \*may have had \*a good reputation for safety and service…but losing 2 planes in a few months? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/34 "2014-07-21T10:36:54Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > MH \*may have had \*a good reputation for safety and service…but losing 2 planes in a few months? One of which was demonstrably not due to mechanical problems nor to pilot error, and the other is so mysterious it provides no information at all. The only thing they could possibly be faulted for is not adhering to a stricter set of no-fly zones, in which case they are exactly as guilty as half the airlines with routes potentially crossing Ukraine – e.g., Lufthansa. Anyone who refuses to fly Malaysia Airlines should _logically_ refuse to fly Lufthansa as well. But most (all?) people aren’t notably logical in their thinking, so the fact is that Malaysia Airlines is indeed in deep doo-doo as a commercial enterprise. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/35 "2014-07-21T22:36:58Z")
Here’s an [article](http://finance.yahoo.com/news/q-malaysia-airlines-salvage-brand-033710911.html) suggesting some possible fates for MA. It also indicated the airline was not financially sound before the two disasters. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/36 "2014-07-21T23:41:04Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > the other is so mysterious it provides no information at all. That arguably makes it _worse_. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/37 "2014-07-22T03:16:52Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > MH has a good reputation for safety and service, as others have noted. We’re not talking about Air Koryo here. > [@JKellyMap](#): > > But most (all?) people aren’t notably logical in their thinking, so the fact is that Malaysia Airlines is indeed in deep doo-doo as a commercial enterprise. Indeed. I myself have flown them and after the first plane crashed sang their praises. But I must admit that illogical though it may be, the thought of boarding them again now gives me a squicky feeling. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/38 "2014-07-22T04:32:38Z")
jkellymap - plenty of other airlines had stopped flying over the Ukraine. I don’t really care that it wasn’t MAS’ “fault”, but Jesus H Christ, they lost 2 planes in a very short time period. Here’s a take on Bloomberg: [Bloomberg - Are you a robot?](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-21/malaysian-air-said-to-present-options-for-turnaround-this-week.html) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/39 "2014-07-22T09:15:08Z")
Hmmm. Malaysia Airlines now avoids Ukraine, [flies over Syria instead](http://us.cnn.com/2014/07/22/world/asia/malaysia-airlines-plane-over-syria/index.html?hpt=hp_t1). :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413/40 "2014-07-22T10:53:40Z")
ChinaGuy, I’m sorry, you’re being illogical (and the article you linked to makes clear it’s a perception issue, plus the financial shakiness of the airline pre-370). But, like Siam Sam, I, too, can’t help giving in to the urge to avoid Malaysia Airlines. The concept (fallacy) of “bad luck” is just too deeply ingrained in the human brain. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-screwed-is-malaysia-airlines-now/684413.md?page=3)