KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines Berhad and Qatar Airways today announced a new chapter in their long-standing relationship by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The new agreement will further facilitate a strategic cooperation that will see both airlines working closely together across multiple areas of the business to offer an unrivalled and range of valueadded services to passengers.

With the enhanced partnership, both airlines will leverage each other’s network strengths and provide more access for passengers to travel to new destinations beyond their individual networks while offering new and exclusive product to their customers soon. Malaysia Airlines’ passengers will enjoy seamless connectivity to popular destinations in Europe, Africa, Middle East and the Americas with Qatar Airways’ extensive network via Doha, while Qatar Airways’ passengers will gain better access to the wider domestic Malaysia market and key destinations in Asia such as Penang, Langkawi, Medan (Indonesia) operated by Malaysia Airlines via its hub, KL International Airport.

Building on the close links between Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways’ networks and rapid expansion of codeshare flights, the two oneworld partners have also agreed to maximise synergies in other areas of the business such as air cargo, operations or commercial services, that will create a game-changing innovative synergy for both carriers in leading the new travel demand ahead. 

Group Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Airlines Berhad, Mr. Izham Ismail, said: “We are delighted to have taken the next important step with our close oneworld partner. This partnership will provide better efficiencies and a more comprehensive network for our passengers whilst we further boost the growth of traffic flow via KLIA, which will serve as a primary gateway to Malaysia domestic and selected Southeast Asian region destinations.

“This MoU for strategic partnerships between Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways is an important part of our long-term business plan, as we explore more strategic opportunities and establish deeper partnerships. At the same time, it underscores the commitment of both airlines to provide passengers with safer, and increased choice of flights, wider destinations and greater flexibility on top of the excellent service hospitality throughout their travels with us.

“We believe the strategic partnership will put both full-service carriers on a stronger footing to compete in the highly competitive market as we continue to navigate recovery of the pandemic. With the reopening of international borders and an increase in the demand for air travel.”

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “This is a significant moment for us as we have just celebrated 20 years of serving Malaysia, and this new strategic cooperation with our oneworld partner, Malaysia Airlines, further cements our commitment to the country. This partnership will serve to link both our networks and allow us to work together across different aspects of the business therefore creating exciting opportunities for our joint passengers, as well as for our airlines.

“As we move forwards a post-pandemic world, successful business is driven by strong partnerships, and this close cooperation with Malaysia Airlines is a firm example of how symbiotic international partnerships can pave way to industry recovery. Providing customers access to the most extensive route network with unrivalled service and seamless connections.”

Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways launched their codeshare cooperation in 2004 and have significantly expanded the partnership in recent years, which today comprises of 62 codeshare destinations in Malaysia, South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Africa.