Malaysia Airlines has announced the launch of five additional flights from Delhi and two from Bengaluru to Kuala Lumpur and other Malaysian cities from this month, taking its total flights per week from India to 38. The new flights will be operational from today for flyers leaving Delhi and will be available in Bengaluru from September 3, 2010. With the increase in the number of flights, the airline will now operate 12 weekly flights from Delhi and seven from Bengaluru. The airline will use Boeing 738 aircraft for these new flights.

Azahar Hamid, Regional Manager (South Asia Operations), Malaysia Airlines said, “Delhi is a strategic gateway for the airline’s South Asia operations. We are anticipating increased passenger movement both for inbound, as well as outbound with the upcoming Commonwealth Games. It will also provide better connectivity, especially to Indian flyers going to destinations like Australia and China, with a reduced transit time.”

The airline has also introduced an all-inclusive return airfare on the Delhi-Kuala Lumpur route at Rs 16,376, which is valid till September 30, 2010. The return airfare from Bengaluru to Kuala Lumpur will cost Rs 14,138 and will be valid till November 30, 2010.

Hamid said that by June 2011, Malaysia Airlines will have 53 flights per week from five destinations in India -- Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad – which would complete the medium term expansion plan for the airline.

Presently, the airline operates 31 weekly flights from India to Malaysia and globally flies to over 100 destinations across six continents. In addition, the airline also plans to use A-330 aircraft on the Mumbai route once the aircraft are delivered. The airline has placed orders for 25 Airbus 330s and is expecting delivery of the first tranche of aircraft in the first half of 2011.