Malaysia Air plans 86 more flights

Malaysia Airlines is set to operate 86 more flights from India in this financial year to take advantage of the government' limited open air policy. The carrier will operate 17 flights out of Bangalore, 18 out of Hyderabad and 51 out of Mumbai.

"We are operating extra flights to take advantage of government's policy. We are awaiting a full-fledged open air policy to be announced before enhancing our operations further. By the end of next financial year, we plan to connect Kolkata, Amritsar, Kochi, Trivandrum and Trichi." Nick Phang, general manager, sales, Malaysia Airlines, said on Friday.

Malaysia's national carrier on Thursday launched its thrice-a-week flights from Ahmedabad to Kaula Lampur. With this, Malaysia's national carrier now has 26 flights every week from 6 centres in India. It plans to increase this to 37 flights a week from 11 centres by the end of the next financial year.

Malaysia Airlines plans to launch its thrice a week direct flights connecting Kolkata and Kaula Lumpur from January 28, 2005, followed by Amritsar and other south Indian cities.

The airlines currently operates from five destinations in India "" Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

With the commencement of flights from Ahmedabad, Malaysia Airlines' seat capacity has increased to 8,218 seats per week from 5,844 seats per week.

The airline seeks to share a slice of the enormous pie of the Gujarati outbound traffic, which forms almost 11 per cent of the outbound air traffic in the country.