Malaysia Airlines to increase seat capacity to 8000

Malaysia Airlines, the national air career of Malaysia and one of the leading airlines in the far east sector, is set to enhance its seat capacity to around 8,000 per week from 2,000 seats per week at present, eyeing to register a four-fold growth in its passengers to and from India.

The airline is planning to introduce new flights to at least four new destinations apart from increasing the frequency in selected sectors.

The airline at present operates from select destinations in India namely Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad. The airline has also started flying from Ahmedabad and Kolkata recently.

Among its new destinations, the airline is planning to launch its return direct flights from Amritsar to Kaula Lumpur, followed by Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Trichi among others.

"We are having a major expansion plan for India, and the new route is a part of our expansion plan in India and demonstrates our commitment to an emerging economic giant like India. By the end of next year we will be flying at least over 10 destinations in India. We are already operational in seven Indian cities. After Kolkata, we are planning to launch our services in Amritsar followed by few south Indian cities, which has a major potential for the far east sector," said Zinal Abidin Sulaiman, area manager, Malaysia Airlines, on Friday.

Sulaiman was here on Friday evening to address a seminar on international travel organised by Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Airline will operate the Airbus 330-300 series aircraft, with a total of 290 seats per flight, comprising 42 business class seats and 248 economy class passenger seats.

Globally, the airline has a fleet of nearly 100 aircraft connecting more than 100 destinations. The airline has started its operations in India in 1972 from Chennai.

Each flights from India have a capacity to carry cargo of 10 tonne, which will enhance its cargo business from the Indian market.

The airline may also introduce its freighter aircraft, MASkargo, the cargo subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines with the increasing demand for cargo services as the cargo business is expected to grow in the Indian market by 12 per cent to 15 per cent in the coming years.

Apart from the introduction of new routes, the airline has already planned to operate 86 additional flights from India, 17 flights out of Bangalore, 18 out of Hyderabad, and 51 out of Mumbai.