MALAYSIA Airlines Bhd (MAS) appears to have a head start on its closest rivals — AirAsia Group Bhd, AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) and Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd — after closing a restructuring deal that sees it emerging with a stronger balance sheet, having eliminated some RM10 billion in debt. Last week, the UK court approved the national airline’s plan to restructure more than RM15 billion in liabilities, which effectively removes “decades-long legacy issues in its balance sheet”, its parent Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd (MAG) says. The plan includes a RM3.6 billion lifeline from its sole shareholder Khazanah Nasional Bhd to support the carrier’s new five-year business plan, which envisages MAS returning to profitability from 2022.