MAS Offers Special Fares And Holiday Packages At MATTA Travel Fair

March 14, 2012 20:50 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, March 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines System Bhd (MAS) is offering attractive domestic and international travel airfares, MASholidays packages and travel-related products at the MATTA Travel Fair from March 16-18, 2012.

In a statement Wednesday, MAS said all-inclusive discounted airfares for economy and business class would be available through its appointed agents participating in the fair while MASholidays would offer domestic and international holiday package promotional fares.

"Business class travellers can enjoy all-inclusive return air fares from RM1,899 to Phnom Penh, Manila and Hanoi, RM3,699 to both Beijing and Hong Kong, RM4,899 to Seoul and Male and RM10,015 to Los Angeles.

"Similar fares to London start from RM20,999 and passengers will enjoy the travel comfort of the Airbus A380-800 on selected days starting from July 2012," it said.

MAS said its unit, Firefly, would also offer great deals to destinations like Koh Samui, Langkawi, Terengganu, Kota Bahru, Penang, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. MAS said those interested and not be able to make it to the PWTC to grab these deals could get them via its website at www.malaysiaairlines.com, call centre at 1-300-88-3000 and ticket offices nationwide.

-- BERNAMA

Firefly To Launch Kota Baharu-Johor Baharu, Subang-Hat Yai Flights

March 15, 2012 19:16 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 (Bernama) -- Community airline, Firefly, is introducing two new routes -- Kota Baharu-Johor Baharu (JB), from Apr 26 and Subang-Hat Yai, from May 2.

In a statement Thursday, Firefly said the Kota Baharu-JB service will have flights every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and Subang-Hat Yai every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Shorthaul Malaysia Airlines and Firefly chief operating officer, Ignatius Ong, said the new flights were to meet the needs of business and leisure customers from Kota Baharu who had requested for direct flights with convenient timings to Johor.

Ong said the load factor on the Subang-Hat Yai route will comprise Malaysians as well as foreign tourists.

Ticket sales to these new destinations will commence on March 16 and can be purchased from website www.fireflyz.com.my, Firefly's airport and city ticketing offices and through travel agents.

-- BERNAMA

Opportunities For MAS, AirAsia To Collaborate

March 15, 2012 21:28 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 (Bernama) -- There are still opportunities for Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia to collaborate in areas that can benefit both, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala.

"They should find areas where they can work together. There are areas where they have to compete and that is very important," he told reporters after the Investment Committee Meeting here Thursday.

He said the Competition Act, which came into force in late January, would be the guideline for both airlines.

"It is very important that both comply (with the law). They are doing everything they can and are clearly aware of it," he said.

-- BERNAMA

MAS Frankfurt Keen To Promote Destination Malaysia

March 18, 2012 20:25 PM

MAS Frankfurt Keen To Promote Destination Malaysia

By Manik Mehta
FRANKFURT, March 18 (Bernama) -- Despite having limited connectivity between Germany and Malaysia -- it has five non-stop flights a week from Frankfurt to Kuala Lumpur -- the Frankfurt office of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is very keen to promote destination Malaysia.

"Indeed, we want to do more for destination Malaysia. We have offered to closely work with Tourism Malaysia in the same way as it is doing with Singapore Airline," explained David Raj, Frankfurt-based MAS area manager for Germany, Switzerland and Croatia, in an interview with Bernama in his office.

Tourism Malaysia, which says it needs more connections to Malaysia to keep pace with the demand, has forged close cooperation with Singapore Airline, working out "special offers" for tourists visiting Malaysia and also entering into what is described as a "tactical campaign" with that airline.

MAS has also been involved in other forms of cooperation with Tourism Malaysia to promote Malaysia.

MAS provides air tickets for familiarisation tours organised by Tourism Malaysia for the travel and tour industry and the media.

But Raj, who has built up a large base of business contacts in Germany, said that MAS did not mind Tourism Malaysia working with other airlines "as long as they promote Malaysia".

Raj highlighted the corporate sector's importance for MAS' traffic to Malaysia, and said that the "business segment of travellers generate high yields" for the airline.

There were also, of course, leisure travellers who take MAS' business class.

Raj did not rule MAS increasing at some point in the future the current five flights a week from Frankfurt to Kuala Lumpur to a daily flight "subject to availability of aircraft".

MAS deploys the B-777-200 aircraft type for the Frankfurt-Kuala Lumpur sector.

MAS works on a "hub-and-spokes" network basis. It has "spokes" in Amsterdam, Stockholm, Zaghreb and Zurich.

The bulk of MAS' business, estimated at 90 per cent, was provided by travel agents, underlining the airline's close association with the travel and tour operators. The new buzzword is direct retailing.

This could be done by opening up direct channels of bookings through the Internet which currently accounts for five per cent.

"We are working on that and will introduce a German online service. We have noticed that MAS' sales in France, for example, posted three-digit growth after a French service was launched.

"Our German online service will be launched in the third quarter of this year," Raj disclosed.

--BERNAMA  

MAS Set To Join Oneworld Alliance By Year-end

March 21, 2012 19:35 PM

Malaysia Airlines Cabin Crew and oneworld. Pic: Courtesy of Malaysia Airlines KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama)-- Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is well poised to become a full member of the oneworld alliance by end of this year.

In a statement Wednesday, MAS group chief executive officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said: "After airberlin, Malaysia's national carrier will become a full member of oneworld alliance.

"The prospect of being able to offer improved global coverage and connectivity through an expanded network of great airlines to Malaysia Airlines' guests is indeed very exciting," he said.

"Our customers, in particular members of our enrich loyalty programme, will benefit from increased rewards and recognition whilst enjoying more seamless air travel options," he added.

MAS is looking forward to a full membership that will improve its brand awareness amongst the alliance members' customers and enhance its load factors through additional partner traffic, Ahmad Jauhari said.

These in turn would drive the hub connectivity to facilitate the national carrier's global reach through oneworld's network of some 800 destinations in 150 countries.

"This membership will be among the significant catalysts that will complement our efforts to win back customers and become a profitable preferred premium carrier as outlined in our Business Plan," he added.

Oneworld aims to be the airline alliance of choice for the world's frequent international travellers, bringing together some of the best and biggest names in the airline industry including airberlin, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines.

--BERNAMA  

MAS Launches The Big Flight Competition

March 23, 2012 19:04 PM

Malaysia Airlines' A380 'The Big Flight' competition. Pic: Courtesy of Malaysia AirlinesKUALA LUMPUR, March 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines today launched 'The Big Flight' competition at its official YouTube brand channel which will see the winners earning a joyride on the airline's A380 plane.

In a statement, MAS said those interested in the competition need to submit a short video by April 22, stating why they are unique and deserve to fly on the Malaysia Airlines A380 Joyride.

Participants must be Malaysian, aged 18-years and above with a valid passport. Twenty shortlisted videos will be chosen based on creativity, originality and overall impression.

The shortlisted videos will then be put up on YouTube for voting by the public, and the top eight most voted videos will win the joyride tickets.

Its Marketing and Promotions Senior Vice President, Al-Ishsal Ishak said the competition was part of the airline's "A380 Pride of Nation" campaign, launched earlier this month.

Details on the competition and video submissions can be found at http://www.youtube.com/MalaysiaAirlines.

Malaysia Airlines is expected to receive the first of six A380 aircraft in mid-June this year.

The aircraft will have 494 seats in a three-class configuration comprising eight First Class, 66 Business Class seats and 420 Economy Class seats.

The A-380 will fly the Kuala Lumpur-London route from July. -- BERNAMA

Malaysia Airlines Increases Regional And Long-Haul Network Frequencies

March 24, 2012 17:28 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines is offering increased full-service weekly frequencies effective tomorrow between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing, Manila, Phnom Penh, Los Angeles, Taipei, Bangkok, Medan and Jakarta, taking advantage of an expected rise in demand on these routes.

These sectors will see a gradual increase in total capacity from the current 19,540 seats to 24,820 by May 1, the airline said in a statement here today.

The company said these routes would mainly use B737-800 and B777-200 aircraft, all equipped with in-seat personal TV screens and more leg room for customers' comfort.

The additional frequencies also seek to offer travel enthusiasts from Malaysia more convenient connections to enjoy events like the Penghu Fireworks Festival in Taiwan, Beijing International Book Fair and Cocoa de Flores in Manila.

The company said travellers can now take advantage of the 50 per cent increased frequency of 21 weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Manila at all-inclusive return economy class fares starting from RM1,357.

For travel to Phnom Penh, customers can enjoy return economy class fares from only RM814 and more flight choices with the 55 per cent frequency increase to 14 weekly services by May 1.

For Indonesia, passengers will have more flight choices with all-inclusive return economy class fares from RM647 to Jakarta and RM477 to Medan as Malaysia Airlines increases weekly frequencies to 42 flights for the Kuala Lumpur-Jakarta route effective tomorrow and double daily for the Kuala Lumpur-Medan route.

As for travel to Bangkok, all-inclusive return fares start from RM883 as the national carrier commences four daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, also effective tomorrow.

Other attractive deals are available on Malaysia Airlines' website www.malaysiaairlines.com, Malaysia Airlines Call Centre at its 24-hour toll-free number 1-300-88-3000, and all its ticket offices in Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA

Malaysia Airlines & Bangkok Airways Begin Code Sharing

March 27, 2012 15:38 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and Bangkok Airways have commenced a code-sharing agreement on the Thai carrier's selected domestic flights and international routes between Thailand and Malaysia.

The arrangement, effective March 25, also covers MAS services between Malaysia and Thailand.

It will allow the national carrier to set its MH marketing flight code on Bangkok Airways' services for Bangkok-Koh Samui (31 times weekly flights), Bangkok-Phuket (14 times weekly flights), Bangkok-Chiang Mai (14 times weekly flights), Koh Samui-Phuket (14 times weekly flights) and Koh Samui-Kuala Lumpur (daily flight).

"Bangkok Airways will code share on Malaysia Airlines' Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok (27 times weekly) and Kuala Lumpur-Phuket (14 times weekly) services," MAS said in a statement today.

The latest Bangkok Airways' service for Kuala Lumpur-Koh Samui allows Malaysians and international passengers to fly direct into the island from KL International Airport (KLIA) without having to stop over in Bangkok.

The KLIA-Koh Samui-KLIA service is the Thai airway's third international route into Samui island after Singapore and Hong Kong.

Senior Vice President (International Affairs) MAS, Germal Singh said the national carrier was delighted with the cooperation with Bangkok Airways which was growing fast in Thailand's premier domestic and regional airline market.

"With Malaysia Airlines' current 27 weekly services between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok and twice daily services between Kuala Lumpur and Phuket, the code share with Bangkok Airways fits nicely into the needs of our travellers.

"They now have better travel options to get to Chiangmai via Bangkok, or on circuit trips like KLIA-Phuket-Koh Samui-Bangkok-KLIA.

"The code share with Bangkok Airways also allows us to improve our Thailand product by offering seamless connectivity to these sought-after destinations whilst strengthening KLIA's position as a key gateway for travellers."

-- BERNAMA