KUALA LUMPUR – After a series of flight turnbacks and diversions involving Malaysia Airlines, a top official at parent company Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) has addressed the impact of staff departures on the operations of its national carrier.

While recent service disruptions have mostly been attributed to mechanical issues, such as engine trouble in three cases, MAG Managing Director Izham Ismail said technicians at maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) companies have also been leaving for higher salaries elsewhere.

Among the rivals reportedly poaching talent from local MRO companies is Singapore Airlines’ engineering group, which is slated to conduct its own MRO operations at Kuala Lumpur Subang Airport by 2026. SIA is said to be offering better remuneration packages to technicians, Aviation Week’s Chen Chuanren reported.

The outflow of talent from Malaysian MRO companies, such as MAG’s subsidiary, MAB Engineering, has purportedly affected Malaysia Airlines’ operations and likely contributed to the recent spate of aircraft issues arising mid-flight. Of the 63 engineers who have left MAB Engineering, a dozen were employed by SIA Engineering Company.

MAG said it anticipated staff departures by training a new group of MRO technicians and enhancing their pay and benefits. At this point, it is also exploring options from international MRO service providers.

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The talent war in the aviation industry

Critics believe the loss of skilled talent to competitors like SIA Engineering Company is a “reflection of MAB’s inability to offer competitive benefits to their employees,” which in turn is “prompting them to seek better opportunities elsewhere”.

Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke, for his part, said competition for skilled workers in the aviation industry “cannot be avoided”.

On the contrary, the talent war between employers has its benefits. “Higher salaries naturally provide employees with better options. But, from a positive perspective, it opens the door to more high-paying job opportunities,” Loke said.

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The call for more ‘competent’ leaders

Others have called for Malaysia Airlines to overhaul its management with more competent leaders.

Ab Manan Mansor, president of the Malaysian Pilots Association, said the problem with talent at the national carrier starts from the leadership.

“There is no bright future for the airline if there are no significant changes from the management. The aviation industry needs competent leaders as they bring expertise, experience and effective leadership skills to manage operations,” Ab Manan told The Sun.

“Competent leaders will foster a culture of excellence, enhance the passenger experience and build customer loyalty. Their proficiency helps prevent errors, ensures safety and drives profitability for the company.”

The first order of business in attracting and retaining the best engineers is “aligning pay with market rates and offering additional wellness incentives,” he said.

Offering salaries that “match or exceed industry standards,” Malaysia Airlines needs to recruit skilled workers immediately since the apparent manpower shortage would only cripple operations even more, he said.