Firefly Opens Up Kuala Lumpur–Christmas Island Connection

KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 (Bernama) -- Firefly, the low-cost unit of Malaysia Airlines (Malaysia's national carrier) will introduce weekly scheduled charter service between Kuala Lumpur and Christmas Island in Australia from July 7 this year. The airline said the services will be available every Saturday, departing Kuala Lumpur at 9.20am and arriving Christmas Island at 10.55am, while the return flight leaves Christmas Island at 11.55am and arrives in Kuala Lumpur at 3.30pm. "Firefly will utilise its B737-400 aircraft, which has a seating capacity of 162, on this route. "The new services are a collaboration between the airline and Sunwise Nominees Pty Ltd doing business as Christmas Island Air," Firefly said in a statement Wednesday. Besides the new services to Christmas Island, Firefly said it is also operating twice weekly scheduled charter services between Malacca and Penang utilising its ATR72-500 turboprop aircraft and weekly charter services to Nanning direct from Kuala Lumpur and also via Penang (north Malaysia) utilising its B737-400 aircraft. Chief Executive Officer Ignatius M.C. Ong said Firefly's scheduled charter services are doing well because of its excellent customer service, reasonable fee and willingness to accommodate clients' flight schedules. "We are also flexible in accommodating special requests such as customised in-flight menus, use of lounge facilities at Subang Skypark and tailor-made in-flight announcements. "Most requests for scheduled charter services are to stations not serviced within the Firefly network. "Besides providing scheduled charters, the airline also offers ad-hoc charters. Clients are mainly from corporate companies who book the entire aircraft for their company outings and corporate incentive programmes," Ong said. -- BERNAMA