Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will provide new daytime flights between Malaysia and India starting September 1, in addition to existing evening services between Kuala Lumpur and the Indian cities of Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru. According to Malaysia Airlines’ Regional Senior Vice President for Middle East & South Asia, Azahar Hamid, target passengers of the added services are business travellers out of India and leisure travellers out of Malaysia.
Increased services to Mumbai will depart Kuala Lumpur every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 0920 and arrive in the Indian metropolis at 1145. The return leg departs at 1145 to touch down in Kuala Lumpur at 2020 the same day.
New daytime services to Bengaluru take off on Monday, Thursday and Saturday at 0950 and arrive at the Indian IT hub at 1120, while the return flight departs at 1210 to arrive back at 1855.
Four more flights to Chennai will depart Kuala Lumpur each week on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 0935 for a 1045 arrival, and take off again at 1145 to touch down in Malaysia at 1815.
Together with the 12 existing weekly services to New Delhi and daily flight to Hyderabad, MAS will have a total of 50 weekly direct and full-service flights between the two countries.
Hamid added that the expansion of services in India has long been on the airlines’ agenda, but plans were postponed due to a shortage of suitable aircraft. In 2012, a total of 23 aircraft will join MAS in phases, including five A380 superjumbos (click here for a detailed review). With an expanding fleet, the carrier now has enough B738-800s to operate the new daytime flights, providing more flexibility and options for passengers.
According to Hamid, a trade agreement between Malaysia and India in 2011 has further enhanced the connection between the two countries, opening up new avenues for more economic cooperation. Also, more passengers travel between the two places to visit friends and relatives, especially between South India and Malaysia. Thus, demand for flights between the two countries is on the rise.
For more information, visit www.malaysiaairlines.com.
Michelle Fong
