Malaysia Airlines to commence three new routes from KL to India

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines is expanding its footprint in India with the commencement of three new services between Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Amritsar (ATQ), Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) and Ahmedabad (AMD) effective Nov 8, Nov 9 and Dec 1, 2023 respectively.

Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) group managing director Datuk Captain Izham Ismail said the expansion would bring Malaysia Airlines' point-to-point connectivity from Kuala Lumpur to India to nine key hubs, thereby providing passengers with enhanced options and flexibility for travel between the two countries.

The airline currently operates direct flights to New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kochi.

The new routes would be serviced by the Boeing 737-800NG aircraft, equipped with 160 seats, comprising 16 seats in Business Class and 144 seats in Economy Class.

As part of this endeavour, Malaysia Airlines is offering introductory fares with all-in return tickets starting from RM999 on Economy Class and from RM2,999 on Business Class, available for purchase from today until Sept 9, 2023, for travel beginning Nov 8, 2023 to March 31, 2024.

Additionally, customers who book during this period would enjoy up to 50 per cent Bonus Enrich Points.

"India remains a key market for Malaysia Airlines.

"The three new routes into our Indian network will provide added convenience for travellers, strengthen our presence in this core market and extend our Malaysian Hospitality service even further," he said in a press conference here in conjunction with the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair here from Sept 1-3, 2023 today.

He said the airline's current average load factor on this route stood at 81 per cent year-to-date (YTD) as at July 2023, signifying the growth and confidence for travel between the two markets.

"We are looking at restoring our pre-Covid-19 capacity back in the Indian market by the end of this year and will also look to increase flight frequencies to other destinations as we support seamless travels in Malaysia and beyond," Izham said.

In a statement, Malaysia Airlines said it would enhance its frequency to build dominance in other key markets, including Australia, China and Asean.

Beginning December 2023, the airline would boost its weekly flights from KUL to Melbourne (MEL) and Sydney (SYD) from 14 flights a week to 15 and 16 flights a week, respectively.

Meanwhile, MAG's chief commercial officer, Dersenish Aresandiran, said the airline also launched its new product offerings, MHsports and MHcruise, to further enhance the overall traveller experience.

He said MHsports provides groups of five or more people travelling for sporting purposes to enjoy perks, including special fares, an extra 10kg baggage allowance, flexible date and time changes, and the convenience of extending their journey with a flexible return date.

"The MHcruise features special discounted fares tailor-made for selected travel trades to seamlessly integrate with their cruise packages.

"MHcruise ensures convenience for all with discounted fares, including special fares for kids under 12, an extra 10kg baggage allowance, preferential fares on both Business and Economy Class seats, and the freedom to choose one-way or return trips to various destinations within the Malaysia Airlines network," he said.

Dersenish said customers can also anticipate enhanced offerings from AMAL by Malaysia Airlines, the dedicated Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage arm of Malaysia Airlines, ensuring a seamless end-to-end travel journey.

"This includes Umrah Plus, which will be launched in a few months, providing free return tickets to selected domestic destinations to international customers during their pilgrimage journey," he added.

-- BERNAMA