MAS Increases Frequencies To Regional, Long Haul Network From March 25

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is increasing its weekly frequencies to several ASEAN destinations as well as to Beijing, Taipei and Los Angeles effective March 25, 2012 to cater for the anticipated capacity demand in the northern summer season. The current twice daily Kuala Lumpur-Manila return sector operations will be complemented with a 50 per cent frequency increase resulting in 1,120 more seats in each direction with the introduction of another daily B737-800 flight. "With this, MAS will have 21 weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Manila effective March 25, 2012," said the national carrier in a statement Sunday. Likewise, the Kuala Lumpur-Phnom Penh return route, now operated with nine weekly frequencies, will be further increased with another two weekly flights on Tuesday and Thursday from that date, followed by another three weekly services on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday effective May 1, 2012. "This will double the airline’s daily B737 flights between the two cities," it said. For the Indonesian market, MAS will introduce two weekly B737-800 flights for the Kuala Lumpur-Jakarta return route effective March 25, 2012 on Tuesday and Thursday resulting in a total of 42 weekly services between the two capital cities. Connectivity between Kuala Lumpur-Medan will be doubled with the addition of another weekly B737 service on Friday, making it two flights daily from that date. MAS will also operate four daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok effective March 25, 2012 with the introduction of an additional flight on Sunday between the two cities. "There is also great news for travelers to Beijing, Taipei and Los Angeles," MAS said. From March 25, its current B777-200 operations to Beijing from KLIA will be doubled to twice daily, offering customers a choice of the existing morning and the new evening departures from KLIA to suit their convenience. An additional 1,974 seats will be offered through this 100 per cent increase in weekly frequency between KLIA and Beijing. Meanwhile, the current three weekly flights MH 94/95 for Kuala Lumpur–Taipei–Los Angeles and return on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday will be revised to operate four times weekly as flights MH 92/93 Kuala Lumpur–Tokyo (Narita)–Los Angeles return on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. "This represents a 33 per cent increase in seat capacity on the Kuala Lumpur-Los Angeles return route," MAS said. Arising from this revised routing to Los Angeles and return, the Taipei-Los Angeles return sector will be delinked from the national carrier’s network effective March 23, 2012. However, MAS will increase frequency on the existing Kuala Lumpur–Taipei return sector by operating an additional three weekly flights on Monday, Wednesday and Friday effective March 27, 2012 using the B737-800 aircraft. Together with the existing four weekly B737-800 flights, the national carrier will offer direct daily connectivity between KLIA and Taipei by providing an additional capacity of 480 seats (75 per cent increase) in each direction. MAS will also continue to offer direct daily connectivity between Kota Kinabalu and Taipei using the latest B737-800 aircraft with a capacity of 16 Business Class and 144 Economy Class seats. MAS’ flight frequency expansion is in line with the airline’s Business Plan revealed on Dec 7, 2011 where the national carrier’s network focus going forward is on the core ASEAN region where its presence is the strongest. In raising flight frequencies to these key Asian cities, the move will enable Malaysia Airlines to benefit from the strong growth in regional demand. It is also expected to increase full service flight passenger arrivals into Malaysia to further contribute positively towards the Malaysian tourism industry. -- BERNAMA