State-controlled Malaysia Airlines on Tuesday reported a 9.8 percent drop in first-quarter profit due to higher fuel costs.
The national carrier posted profit of MYR120 million ringgit (USD$36.96 million) for the three months ended March 31, down from MYR133 million a year earlier.
The airline, which posted two years of losses since 2005, returned to full-year profit in 2007, aided by a business turnaround plan that has seen cost reductions and better yields.
