Malaysia Airlines plans direct flights to Ahmedabad

Malaysia Airlines is all set to double its operation in India in the next one year. The airlines, which presently operates from five destinations in India, Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, will launch its direct flight to Ahmedabad from Kaula Lumpur on December 16.

This will be followed flights by Kolkata and Amritsar.

"By the end of next year, we are planning to fly at least 10 destinations in India. We are already operating in five Indian cities.

"After Ahmedabad, we are planning to launch our services in Kolkata followed by Amritsar, although nothing has been finalised yet," Zinal Abidin Sulaiman, area manager, Malaysia Airlines told Business Standard.

Malaysia Airlines operates daily flights from Chennai, four weekly flights from New Delhi and Mumbai, twice-a-week flight from Bangalore and once-a-week from Hyderabad.

With the introduction of the new Ahmedabad rout, the seat capacity will increase to 8,218 seats per week from the present 5,844 seats per week and the total number of flights to 26 per week from 23.

"We have 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," said Sonia Dutt, marketing manager, South Asia, Malaysia Airlines.

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.

The five-hour-five minute flight from Ahmedabad will depart from the Sardar Vallabhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) at 11.35 pm (local time) and will arrive at the Kaula Lumpur International Airport , Kaula Lumpur at 7.05 am (Malaysia time). The return flight will reach Ahmedabad at 10.05 pm.

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 the city of Chennai. Each flights from Ahmedabad will have a capacity of carrying cargo of 10 tonne, which will add cargo capacity of Malaysia Airlines by 30 tonne per week.

"The airlines may also consolidate its operations in South India, which has a major potential for the Far East sector," said, Anurag Mathur, manager, Gujarat and MP, Malaysia Airlines.