A REBUILT Malaysia Airlines could get a new name in an effort to distance the carrier from the MH370 disaster.

The airline’s new German CEO Christoph Mueller has outlined his plans to build a new airline that would begin operations on September 1.

The company had a disastrous 2014 with the disappearance of Flight MH370 and the shooting down of MH17 over Ukraine.

An administrator was appointed last week to Malaysia Airlines which was “technically bankrupt”, Mr Mueller said.

As part of rebuilding the new airline, two A380 aircraft will be sold, 6000 staff cut and thousands more moved to temporary contracts, flight frequency will be reduced on some routes and others axed altogether.

Mr Mueller said a decision on the rebranding of Malaysia Airlines was still in the process of being made.

“We have to achieve the perception of a completely new start in some markets where our brand is particularly tarnished,” he said.

“In Australia, every day there is news from the search of MH370.

“Every progress report reminds the travelling public of that tragedy and people are simply scared of that.”

He said of the four major aviation tragedies in the past two years, two had been literally forgotten whereas MH370 and MH17 were still front of mind.

“That’s the reason why we have to consider to rebrand,” Mr Mueller said.

“I can’t tell you whether it will be a new name, new symbol, colour scheme or whether we just try to get the idea that we are a new airline.”

It was likely Malaysia Airlines might fly smaller aircraft on Australian routes or at a reduced frequency, rather than axe them altogether.

“The Australian market is of such importance to us and to Malaysia, I don’t think (routes will be cut),” said Mr Mueller.

The decision to sell two A380s was due to the fact they were “hard to fill”.

“The world has changed since these aircraft were ordered,” he said.

Mr Mueller said his plan would achieve a 20 per cent reduction in costs for Malaysia Airlines which was in financial strife before last year’s twin tragedies.

The new airline would be another full service, premium carrier, with two class cabins on most routes, and three classes on their flagship Kuala Lumpur-London route.