Malaysia Airlines in talks to rent out A380s for pilgrim flights

Malaysia Airlines is in talks to rent out its A380 superjumbos to religious travel groups for Haj and Umrah pilgrimages, its CE said, in a move likely to trim financial losses and dispel some recent gloom over demand for the huge jets. Malaysia Airlines has 6 of the jetliners but says the Airbus jet does not make economic sense for it at a time when it is cost-cutting as part of a restructuring. Past attempts to sell the planes have failed. CE Peter Bellew said the airline was in talks about a possible "wet lease" deal with a number of religious travel organisations that would hire Malaysia Airlines aircraft and crew to fly people on the Haj and Umrah pilgrimages. Talks between Malaysia Airlines and the potential customers started about 10 weeks ago and Bellew said he is confident of reaching an agreement before the end of December. <br/>