A new airline called Firefly will take wing next month to service holiday destinations in Thailand and points in Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines said today.

"Firefly will be managed by a separate management team. It aims to commence operations with two Fokker 50 aircraft in early April 2007," Malaysia Airlines said in a statement.

Firefly will be operated by Malaysia Airlines' wholly-owned subsidiary, FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd.

Malaysia Airlines managing director Idris Jala later told reporters that one-way tickets will start at RM9.

The routes Firefly will serve are not being covered by Malaysia Airlines or other carriers, he was quoted as saying by the state Bernama news agency.

"We would like to call it a community airline with a low cost base. It will be a profitable venture," Jala replied when asked whether it is a low-cost carrier.

Asia's low-cost sector is booming and was pioneered more than five years ago by AirAsia operated by Malaysia's Tony Fernandes.

Malaysia Airlines said Firefly will operate twice daily services out of the northern tourist island of Penang to Kota Bahru in northern Kelantan state, to Langkawi island, as well as to Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu.

Firefly will also have daily service to Thailand's Phuket and Koh Samui resorts.

Idris confirmed last month that the carrier was planning a new operation based in Penang.

"We do believe there is an opportunity for operating from a secondary hub provided the product must not be exactly the same," Jala said at the time.

The airline last month reported a RM136.4 million net loss for the 2006 financial year, a better-than-expected result after undergoing major restructuring.

Losses at the state-owned national carrier were down from the 1.14 billion ringgit reported for 2005.