Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is reported to be facing union unrest ahead of its planned share swap with budget carrier AirAsia.
Three unions, representing 15,000 workers, may take part in a protest picket in November unless their concerns about job security are met, the Star newspaper reported.
MAS management said it was disappointed with the unions’ threat to take industrial action should plans go ahead to convert MAS’s low cost operation, Firefly, into a premium airline named Sapphire.
MAS, however, stopped short of confirming that it plans to transfer 80 percent of its staff to the airline once it was established. 


“The management is working towards firming up details of the collaboration (with AirAsia) and will announce it officially, subject to regulatory approvals, at the appropriate time,” MAS said in a statement.
