Missing jet could slow Malaysian Airline's return to profit

By Yantoultra Ngui

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - The disappearance of the Malaysian Airline System (MAS) (KLS:MAS) jet could dent the national carrier's plan to return to profit by end-2014, equity analysts said.

Flight MH370 disappeared early Saturday about an hour into its flight from Kuala Lumpur after climbing to a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet (10,670 metres).

MAS, which saw its net loss expand 171 percent to 1.17 billion ringgit in 2013 from 2012, could see a loss in bookings due to the missing airliner and some analysts believe it could lead to a change in management.

"We do not discount the possibly of changes to MAS top management, given the existing disappointing financial results and the severity of the current incident," Daniel Wong, equity analyst with Kuala Lumpur-based Hong Leong Investment Bank, wrote in a note on Monday.

MAS officials declined to comment on any possible changes to management, saying their primary focus was to care for the families of the passengers on the missing jet.

The latest incident is the second mishap for MAS after a Twin Otter aircraft belonging to MASWings, a unit of MAS, crashed while attempting to land in October 2013, killing two.

"This could last for some time, even months," said Pong Teng Siew, head of research at Kuala Lumpur-based Interpac Securities. "There will be some apprehension among travellers whether they should take MAS flights in the immediate future.

"Passengers and regular travellers of MAS will watch carefully how the top management handles this crisis situation. It means a lot to the future of the carrier."

DIFFICULT TURNAROUND

MAS has been aiming to turn around since it last posted an annual net profit of 237 million ringgit in 2010, but loss-making routes and competition from budget airlines like AirAsia (KLS:AIRASIA) have hurt the company.

It is only recently that it started to see its turnaround plan gain traction after a series of corporate exercises that helped improve cash flow and cut debt. The airline also gained the support of its 20,000-strong employee union following an aborted share swap with AirAsia in May 2012.

Eleven out of 12 analysts who cover the stock have either a strong sell or sell rating, while one recommended a hold, according to data compiled by ThomsonReuters.

The shares have slumped almost 66 percent since 59-year-old power industry veteran, Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, joined the state-controlled airline in 2011.

Malaysia Airports Holdings (KLS:AIRPORT), the operator of Kuala Lumpur International Airport where the Boeing 777 last took off, saw its shares fell 3.34 percent to 8.10 ringgit.

Shares of AirAsia remained unchanged at 2.52 ringgit a share, while long-haul budget airline AirAsia X (AIRX.KL) rose 0.62 percent to 81 sen.

Malaysia's benchmark index declined 0.49 percent.

(Editing by Michael Perry and Matt Driskill)