Malév Hungarian Airlines

Malev redirects here. For the military unit, see Malev (military unit)

Malév Hungarian Airlines
Magyar Légiközlekedési Vállalat

IATA MA ICAO MAH Callsign MALEV
Founded	1946 (as Hungarian-Soviet Civil Air Transport Joint Stock Company)
Hubs	Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport
Frequent-flyer program	Duna Club
Alliance	Oneworld
Fleet size	22 (+19 orders)
Destinations	50
Company slogan	Wings to fly
Parent company	MNV
Headquarters	Budapest, Hungary
Key people	Limburger Lóránt (CEO)
Website	www.malev.com

Malév Hungarian Airlines (Hungarian: Magyar Légiközlekedési Vállalat, abbreviated Malév) is the flag carrier and principal airline of Hungary. It has its head office in the Lurdy House in Budapest, with its main operations at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. From there, the airline flies to 50 cities in 34 countries worldwide using a fleet of 22 aircraft. Malév is a member of the Oneworld alliance, having joined 29 March 2007.^[1] Malév - the accent indicates that the E is long, and the first syllable is always stressed in Hungarian, so the name is pronounced MAH-lev. The company's logo was designed by László Zsótér in 1989.

History

A Malév Boeing 737-700 landing at London Heathrow Airport, England. (2005)

Beginnings

Companies like Aero Rt. (founded 1910), Magyar Æeroforgalmi Rt. (MAEFORT) and Magyar Légiforgalmi Rt. (Malert) were spiritual forebears, but the devastation of World War II temporarily suspended all Hungarian civil aviation and these companies with it. The company's official founding date was 29 March 1946, when the Hungarian-Soviet Civil Air Transport Joint Stock Company (Magyar-Szovjet Légiforgalmi Rt. also known as Maszovlet) was formed. The initial fleet consisted of 21-seat Li-2 passenger aircraft (the Soviet-licensed DC-3) and 3-seat Po-2 "taxis", used for precision air mail: sacks of mail were dropped from the aircraft when flying over its destination. In 1950, Malév's operating base moved from Budaörs to the newly opened airport at Ferihegy, where it has remained.

On 25 November 1956, Hungary acquired all the Soviet shares of Maszovlet, and Malév was born. Operations expanded, with flights extending to nearby countries and, following the 1968 purchase of jet-powered Tupolev Tu-134s from the Soviet Union, across Europe and the Middle East. Even before the political changes of 1989 and the arrival of democracy, Malév had begun phasing out its Soviet-era planes with the introduction of the first western aircraft, a Boeing 737-200 on 18 November 1988.

1990s-2007: Modernisation

A Malév Fokker 70 taxiing at Ferihegy International Airport, Hungary. (2008)

The last Soviet-built Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft was withdrawn from service in 2001. In 2003, Malév began replacing its Boeing 737 Classic aircraft with 737 Next-Generation planes. It now runs a fleet of 18 Boeing 737 Next Generations, as well as 4 Bombardier Dash 8 Q-400s for short-haul routes.^[2]

From 1999 to 2007, the Hungarian state property agency ÁPV Rt. (Állami Privatizációs és Vagyonkezelő Rt.) owned 99.5% of Malév shares. The other 0.5% were in the hands of small shareholders. ÁPV Rt repeatedly tried to privatise Malév, finally selling it to AirBridge Zrt, one of whose stockholders was Boris Abramovich who backed KrasAir and AiRUnion.

2007-present: In private hands

AirBridge acquired 99.9% of the airline in February 2007. It had 1,785 staff members, as of 31 December 2007.^[3]

Despite Czech Airlines' offer to sponsor Malév as an associate member of the SkyTeam alliance, and Malév's codeshare agreements with several SkyTeam carriers, Malév joined Oneworld as a fully-fledged member on 29 March 2007.

On 12 July 2007 Lloyd Paxton was appointed CEO of Malév. Paxton replaced János Gönci, who will remain on the board of directors as an adviser. Mr Paxton was with British Airways for over 35 years and most recently was with Air Astana. Mr Paxton was the first Malév CEO to come from the airline industry. Two months later, on 14 September 2007, Lloyd Paxton resigned as CEO of Malév, replaced by Péter Leonov.^[4] From January 2009, the present chairman is Ballo Anatoly Borisovich.^[5]

On 18 March 2009 the Russian state-owned Vneshekonombank took a minority stake of 49% in AirBridge Zrt which holds the shares of the struggling airline. The bank owed it Ft8,100 (Ft8,100 (€30))m from a loan taken out last autumn. The majority, 51%, remained in Hungarian ownership. The managing control would be taken by Russia's Aeroflot - Russian Airlines^{[citation needed]}. Martin Gauss, former CEO of DBA and Cirrus Airlines as well as a Boeing 737 pilot was elected as CEO on 15 April 2009.^[6]

The airline was renationalized in February 2010, with Hungarian Government state holding company MNV acquiring a 95 per cent stake in the airline. The remaining 5 per cent remained with AirBridge.^[7] In December 2010, the European Commission began an investigation into illegal government subsidies of Malév.^[8]

Company affairs and identity

Head office

Malév's head office at Lurdy House

Malév's head office is located inside the Lurdy House (Lurdy Ház) in Budapest.^[9][10] Lurdy Ház, an office and shopping complex, opened in the northern hemisphere autumn of 1998.^[11] Previously the airline head office was located in another area in Budapest.^[12][13]

The airline has signed a lease agreement in the spring of 2011 with Budapest Airport agreeing to relocate its headquarters back at the airport grounds by the end of 2012. The airline will be based in renovated 10,000 sqm office space in three-storey buildings between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, where 600 employees will be accommodated.^[14]

Destinations

Main article: Malév Hungarian Airlines destinations

Malev Hungarian destinations.

  Hungary

  Malev Hungarian Destinations

Malév Hungarian Airlines has en extensive flight network with 50 destinations covering most of Europe and the Middle East. In the past, flights went to Africa and Southeast Asia, but have now been terminated. Apart from scheduled services, the airline also flies to charter destinations.

On 29 October 2007, Malév announced the suspension of its trans-Atlantic routes for the winter season. Services on the Budapest-Toronto and Budapest-New York-JFK routes were suspended in mid-November. Passenger loads on these routes are considerably lower in winter, making them uneconomical to operate.^[15] Malév wet-leased its Boeing 767-200ER to Oman Air until late March 2008; this helped Malév earn revenue.

In May 2008 the airline terminated services to the Egyptian capital, Cairo, its only scheduled service in Africa. The service was operated four times a week with Boeing 737-600s and Boeing 737-700s. The airline continues to serve Egypt (Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada) on a charter basis.

On 23 July 2008, Malév announced the cancellation of its long-haul flights. Malév has operated flights to Toronto and New York since the early 1990s but the recent increases in operational costs, especially fuel costs have made the flights unprofitable. Malév has no plans to reinstate its trans-Atlantic flights but will instead focus on expanding its European network.^[5]

Awards

Skytrax Best Airline of the year Award for Eastern Europe - 2010.^[16]

Prague Airport Quietest plane award - 2010.^[16]

Annual Business Gala Award:

Best developing Airline - 2010

Best Marketing Staregy Award - 2010 .^[16]

ETB Award "most trusted brand for the environment".^[16]

Codeshare agreements

Malév Hungarian Airlines has codeshare agreements with the following airlines, beside Oneworld members:

Aeroflot (SkyTeam) Air Baltic Air Berlin (Oneworld) Air France (SkyTeam) Alitalia (SkyTeam) American Airlines (Oneworld)

Bulgaria Air Carpatair Czech Airlines (SkyTeam) Etihad Airways Hainan Airlines

Japan Airlines (Oneworld) Moldavian Airlines Qantas (Oneworld) Rossiya Airlines Syrian Air

Fleet

Current

A Malév Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 parking at Budapest Ferihegy International Airport, Hungary. (2009)

A Malév Bombardier CRJ200 taxiing Budapest Ferihegy International Airport, Hungary. (2008)

A Malév Boeing 737-300 at Prague Ruzyně Airport, Czech Republic. (2000)

The Malév Hungarian Airlines fleet consists the following aircraft with an average age of 7.1 years (at November 2010):^[17][18][19]

Malev Fleet

Aircraft	In Fleet	Orders	Options	Passengers			Notes
				J	Y	Total
Boeing 737-600	6	—	—	19	90	109
Boeing 737-700	7	—	—	19	102	121
Boeing 737-800	5	—	—	34 —	126 180	160 180	HA-LOU painted in Oneworld livery
Bombardier Dash 8 Q400	4	4	4	—	72	72	HA-LQD wears retro-scheme colors
Sukhoi Superjet 100	0	15	15	TBA		98	Deliveries TBA (originally expected 2011)
Total:	22	19	19

Services are operated for the airline by Budapest Aircraft Service, primarily using 30-seat Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia to regional destinations.

Malév leased the first of three Boeing 767-300ERs in early 2007, with the intention of adding one aircraft per year, and the last joining the fleet in 2009. These aircraft would have replaced the two Boeing 767-200ERs in Malév's fleet.

At the Farnborough Air Show in July 2008, Malév signed a contract with Canada's Bombardier for the delivery of eight Q400 turboprop aircraft with an option for a further four at a cost of Ft61,330 (Ft61,330 (€226))m to replace the regional CRJ-200 and Fokker 70 fleet.^[20]

Malév returned its leased Boeing 767-300ER (HA-LHC) to ILFC by October 2008. Airline S7 of Russia will then lease this former KLM Boeing 767 for a 6-year period. The fate of Malév's other Boeing 767, a –200ER is unknown but it will most likely be sold.^[21]

On 15 June 2009, SuperJet International and Malév Hungarian Airlines signed a letter of intent for the purchase of 30 Sukhoi Superjet 100-95 aircraft. The first aircraft, in a two-class configuration, will join the Malév fleet from 2011 with the delivery of six aircraft per year.^[22]

Retired

A Boeing 767-200ER shortly after landing at Budapest Ferihegy International Airport, Hungary. (2008)

A Malév Boeing 767-300ER, also seen at Budapest Ferihegy International Airport, Hungary. (2008)

• Aeritalia G.222
• Bombardier CRJ200
• Boeing 737-200
• Boeing 737-300 replaced by Boeing 737-700
• Boeing 737-400 replaced by Boeing 737-800
• Boeing 737-500 replaced by Boeing 737-600
• Boeing 767-200ER
• Boeing 767-300ER
• Fokker 70
• Ilyushin Il-14
• Ilyushin Il-18
• Ilyushin Il-62
• Lisunov Li-2
• Polikarpov Po-2
• Tupolev Tu-134
• Tupolev Tu-154
• Yakovlev Yak-40

Incidents and accidents

• On 23 November 1962, Malév Airlines Flight 355, an Ilyushin Il-18V (HA-MOD), crashed at Paris - Le Bourget Airport, probably as the result of a stall; all 21 on board died.^[23]
• On 28 August 1971, a scheduled Malév Airlines flight, an Ilyushin Il-18V (HA-MOC) crashed into the sea on approach to Copenhagen Airport, killing 32; 2 survived.^[24]
• On 16 September 1971, Malév Airlines Flight 110, a Tupolev Tu-134 (HA-LBD) crashed near Boryspil International Airport, Kiev in bad weather, following two missed approaches, after a generator failure caused the crew to switch to batteries; all 49 on board died.^[25]
• On 30 September 1975 a Malév Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft on the Budapest to Beirut route crashed near the Lebanese shoreline. See Malév Flight 240.
• On 21 September 1977, a Malév Tupolev Tu-134 aircraft (HA-LBC), flying from Istanbul to Bucharest struck level ground on approach, probably as a result of flying at reduced power, unnoticed by the crew. Of the 53 on board, 23 died.^[26]
• On 29 March 1989, two teenagers from Czechoslovakia armed with grenades and shotguns hijacked Flight 640 at Prague Ruzyně Airport, and flew the Tupolev Tu-154B with 15 hostages to Frankfurt Airport before surrendering.^[27]
• On 4 July 2000, Flight 262, a chartered MALÉV Tu-154 HA-LCR, landed on its belly in Salonica in Greece. The crew had forgotten to lower the undercarriage and the plane skidded 400 metres (440 yards) on the runway. The plane was able to become airborne again as the pilots applied full throttle. It circled while the crew lowered the undercarriage and landed safely. There were no injuries, but the aircraft was written off.
• On 13 February 2009 (Friday), MALÉV Flight 440 a scheduled Malév flight Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 from Budapest to Skopje made an emergency landing at the Skopje Airport in Republic of Macedonia. At 16,05 CET the pilot reported right engine failure on the final approach to Skopje LWSK. The pilot safely landed the airplane and there were no injuries reported among the 64 passengers in the aircraft. General Manager of Skopje Airport confirmed the incident.^[28][29][30]

See also

	Hungary portal
	Companies portal
	Aviation portal

• List of airports in Hungary
• List of companies of Hungary
• Transport in Hungary

References

1. ^ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International: pp. 46–47. 10 April 2007. 
2. ^ "Malév history". Malév.com. http://www.malev.com/companyinformation/malev-history/short-history-malev-1946-2008. Retrieved 13 February 2010. 
3. ^ "Annual Report 2007". Malév Ltd.. http://www.malev.com/Root/MalevDocuments/ceginformaciok/annual_reports/2007_ANNUAL_REPORT.pdf. Retrieved 13 February 2010. 
4. ^ "Lloyd Paxton Leaves Malév After Two Months, Peter Leonov Is New CEO". Airliner world. 14 July 2007. http://airlineworld.wordpress.com/2007/09/14/lloyd-paxton-leaves-malev-after-two-months-peter-leonov-is-new-ceo/. Retrieved 31 July 2010. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Focus on Europe" (Press release). Malév Hungarian Airlines. 27 August 2008. http://www.malev.com/CompanyInformation/PressReleases/Article?Content=/Root/MalevContents/En/company-information/pressreleases/press-releases/2009/2/new-chairman-at-head-of-malev. Retrieved 13 February 2010. 
6. ^ "Experienced Germaan airline manager" (Press release). Malev.com. 16 April 2009. http://www.malev.com/companyInformation/pressreleases/article?Content=/Root/MalevContents/En/company-information/pressreleases/press-releases/2009/4/experienced-german-airline-manager. Retrieved 13 February 2010. 
7. ^ Flightglobal: Troubled Malév is renationalised 27 Feb 10
8. ^ "Sceptical EU opens state-aid probe into Malév's financing". http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/12/21/351180/sceptical-eu-opens-state-aid-probe-into-malevs-financing.html. Retrieved 2011-01-02. 
9. ^ "Terms & Conditions." Malév Hungarian Airlines. Retrieved on 28 February 2010.
10. ^ "Communicating change." Europe Intelligence Wire. 12 January 2004. Retrieved on 28 February 2010. "Varadi spoke recently with reporter Anita Benko at Malév's head office in the Lurdy Haz shopping and..."
11. ^ "About Us." Lurdy Ház. Retrieved on 28 February 2010.
12. ^ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. 26 March – 1 April 1997. 86.
13. ^ "Offices in Hungary." Malév Hungarian Airlines. 13 June 1998. Retrieved on 28 February 2010.
14. ^ http://www.bud.hu/english/business-and-partners/property
15. ^ "New York and Toronto flights suspended for winter" (Press release). Malév Hungarian Airlines. http://www.malev.hu/BP/ENG/I_NEWS_ENG/2007-1029-1551-07PGDK.asp. 
16. ^ ^{a b c d} http://www.malev.com/companyinformation/introduction/certification-and-awards
17. ^ Malev official fleet page
18. ^ Airfleets for Malév
19. ^ Horizon. Malév. 2009-9. http://www.malev.hu/Root/MalevDocuments/horizon/2009/horizon_junius_2009_webre.pdf. Retrieved 13 February 2010. 
20. ^ "Malév to buy new aircraft". Caboodle.hu. 16 July 2008. http://www.caboodle.hu/nc/news/news_archive/single_page/article/11/malev_to_buy/?cHash=e3cb2c627c. Retrieved 31 July 2010. 
21. ^ CH-Aviation - Airline News, Fleet Lists & More
22. ^ Kaminski-Morrow, David (15/06/09). "PARIS AIR SHOW: Superjet 100 takes off with Malév order". FlightGlobal. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/06/15/328081/paris-air-show-superjet-100-takes-off-with-malev-order.html/. 
23. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident Ilyushin 18V HA-MOD Paris-Le Bourget". Aviation-safety.net. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19621123-0. Retrieved 13 February 2010. 
24. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident Ilyushin 18V HA-MOC Saltholm Island". Aviation-safety.net. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19710828-0. Retrieved 13 February 2010. 
25. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident Tupolev 134 HA-LBD KievKiev-Borispol Airport (KBP)". Aviation-safety.net. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19710916-2. Retrieved 13 February 2010. 
26. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident Tupolev 134 HA-LBC Urziceni". Aviation-safety.net. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19770921-1. Retrieved 13 February 2010. 
27. ^ "2 Czech Youths Hijack Jetliner to West Germany". Los Angeles Times. 30 March 1989. http://articles.latimes.com/1989-03-30/news/mn-878_1_west-germany. Retrieved 19 August 2010. 
28. ^ posten (14 February 2009). "AUA-Maschine musste nach Start in Skopje umkehren - Flugzeugunglücke - derStandard.at " Panorama". Derstandard.at. http://derstandard.at/?url=/?id=1234507062719. Retrieved 13 February 2010. 
29. ^ "Dva prinudna sletanja u Skoplju" (in Serbian). B92. 13 February 2009. http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2009&mm=02&dd=13&nav_category=167&nav_id=344891. Retrieved 13 February 2010. 
30. ^ "Избегнати инциденти на скопскиот аеродром" (in Macedonian). A1.com.mk. 13 February 2009. http://www.a1.com.mk/vesti/default.aspx?VestID=104381. Retrieved 13 February 2010. 

External links

• Official website
• Hungair Travel - Malév General Sales Agent in Cyprus