Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Bhd is targeting to double its customers for Utusan Malaysia digital newspaper, e-Paper , to 10,000 this year from 5,000 since its launch in November 2012.

One of the company’s initiatives was to provide the e-Paper services to passengers of Malaysia Airlines (MAS), said Utusan Melayu general manager, marketing/circulation, Hasmadi Hassan.

“This represents Utusan ’s pioneer project in providing digital newspaper to MAS’ passengers, via computers and tablets available at the Golden Lounge at the KL International Airport, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Penang airports.

“Besides that, this service can also be downloaded free of charge to tablets or iPads. The passengers can also obtain user ID and password at the Golden Lounge or at the departure gate,” he said at the launch of Utusan Malaysia Digital Newspaper with MAS in Sepang today.

The downloading process for the e-Paper takes 45-60 seconds, and the passengers can read the newspaper anywhere including on board the plane via their personal gadgets.

Meanwhile, MAS director of customer services Mohd Salleh Ahmad Tabrani said the choice of Utusan Malaysia ’s e-Paper service was the result of feedback from its passengers.

He said although the collaboration is for one year, MAS was confident it would get positive response, and planned to apply other services from Utusan Melayu such as its entertainment magazines.

“Besides domestic flights, MAS, in its long-term plan, will use this service for its international flights,” he said.

- Bernama