Malaysia Airlines to increase capacity to Brisbane, Surabaya, and Fukuoka

Malaysia Airlines’ parent company Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) announced a series of new routes and increased flight frequencies across its network. Along with the previously reported re-launch of Malaysia Airlines’ Kuala Lumpur-Busan route, budget airline Firefly will launch flights to Kunming, China, and frequencies will be increased to Brisbane, Surabaya, and Fukuoka.

The Malaysian flag carrier will resume its flights between Kuala Lumpur and Busan with four weekly flights (Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday) from December 2. Using Boeing 737-8 aircraft (737 MAX 8), Busan will be Malaysia Airlines’ second destination South Korea, where it operates up to 11 weekly flights to Seoul Incheon. The airline last served the route during a two-year period between 1996 and 1998.

“With four weekly flights operated by the airline’s Boeing 737-8 aircraft, the service will complement Malaysia Airlines’ existing connectivity to Seoul, giving travellers more choice when travelling to South Korea. Upon resumption, Malaysia Airlines will be the only carrier offering non-stop connectivity between Kuala Lumpur and Busan, providing convenient access to the city’s scenic coastline, vibrant food markets and colourful hillside neighbourhoods.”

Separately, MAG announced its budget subsidiary Firefly will launch its first route to Mainland China connecting Kuala Lumpur and Kunming using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The airline group stated the new service will extend its international network and complement Malaysia Airlines’ wider presence in the country.

Increased Capacity to Fukuoka, Brisbane, and Surabaya

Following the launch of its new route to Fukuoka on September 2, Malaysia Airlines will increase the current five-times weekly schedule on the Kuala Lumpur-Fukuoka route to daily from December 1.

Services on the Kuala Lumpur-Brisbane will be increased from six-times weekly to daily from October 25. With the deployment of the Airbus A330neo aircraft on the Brisbane route, the airline will operate the new-generation widebody jets to three cities in Australia: Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne.

From November 1, services between Kuala Lumpur and Surabaya will be increased from 14 to 16 times weekly.