KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia Airlines chief executive officer Peter Bellew explained Wednesday that the love for his country Ireland is pulling him back to the Irish low-cost airline Ryanair.
"I got a call from Ryanair late evening two weeks ago to be chief operations officer. It is Ireland's greatest company. They need my help and there is a big challenge. It is a form of national service," Bellew said in a statement.
Bellew also emphasized that he said "No" to Ryanair when he was asked to join the group on Sept. 27.
"But a week later the call came and in life we can really never say never. I am looking forward to being close again to my family and friends 14 hours away in Ireland," Bellew said, adding that love for his country is pulling him back to Ireland.
Earlier on Tuesday, Malaysia Airlines management said the announcement of Bellew to re-join Irish low-cost airline Ryanair was "unexpected" as Bellew stated his commitment to Malaysia Airlines when asked to comment on speculation that he would re-join Ryanair at a press conference on Sept. 27.
The statement came after Ryanair announced to the London Stock Exchange that Bellew would re-join Ryanair team in Dublin as chief operations officer from Dec. 1.
Bellew also denied interference from Khazanah Nasional, the Malaysian government owned investment company, when undertaking his transformation plan for Malaysia Airlines.
"There has been no interference. Although possibly I drove Khazanah mad with my constant questions and wish for consensus," he said, adding that the investment arm has supported him in accelerating the transformation plan.
On the outlook of the loss-making Malaysia Airlines, Bellew said the national carrier should move to profits after achieving another 4 percent to 5 percent growth in revenue monthly.
"Success is just within our grasp. Not always easy to gain but in the second quarter, (the group)'s revenue increased 7 percent," he said.
He added that Malaysia Airlines is now revived from China to Britain and Australia, which will continue to yield a revenue growth of more than 5 percent.
