Qatar Airways and Malaysia Airlines have unveiled details regarding the next phase of their strategic partnership.

The two carriers will expand their codeshare agreement, adding 34 destinations to the existing 62 codeshare destinations.

This comes after Malaysia Airlines announced plans to launch a nonstop service from Kuala Lumpur to Doha from May 25.

From May 25 customers flying on the new Kuala Lumpur-Doha service will have access to 62 codeshare destinations within Qatar Airways’ network.

Meanwhile Qatar Airways customers travelling from Doha to Kuala Lumpur will be able to transfer to 34 Malaysia Airlines’ destinations – this includes the carrier’s entire domestic network and key markets in Asia, such as Singapore, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Ho Chi Minh City, subject to governmental approval.

Additionally members of Qatar Airways Privilege Club can earn and redeem Avios points when flying on Malaysia Airlines, with similar benefits for members of Malaysia Airlines Enrich programme when travelling on Qatar Airways’ services.

Members will also enjoy benefits, depending on tier status, such as complimentary lounge access, complimentary extra baggage allowance, priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage delivery on both carriers.

The two carriers stated that they are “striving to develop Kuala Lumpur as a leading aviation hub in the Southeast Asia Region connecting Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand with the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, and Africa.”

Qatar Airways group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said:

“We share a close and deep bond with Malaysia Airlines and welcome their new non-stop service between Kuala Lumpur and our home in Doha, Hamad International Airport. With this strategic partnership, we are committed to delivering greater choice and connectivity to our customers around the world.

“We are experiencing a new optimism in air travel and expect a strong rebound in global demand. With our dynamic partnership with Malaysia Airlines, we are aiming to provide unparalleled service and a superior travel experience for our customers.”

Malaysia Airlines group chief executive officer, Izham Ismail, added:

“We are excited to deepen our cooperation with our long-standing oneworld partner Qatar Airways to bring the world closer to our customers with more choices and flexibility, exceptional services and innovative products, while upholding highest operational safety, just as passengers begin to travel again following the reopening of borders.

“As we move into the endemic phase, this strategic cooperation shows both carriers’ commitment to offering an unrivalled range of value-added services to passengers and reflects the agility and resilience in facing the pandemic challenges. This partnership is opportune in our efforts to boost air traffic and expedite recovery to pre-pandemic levels, while also enhancing our global brand visibility.”

Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways’ strategic partnership was launched in 2001 and expanded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in February 2022 to “leverage each other’s network strengths”.

malaysiaairlines.com ; qatarairways.com