Malaysia Airlines to offer more flights from Delhi, Bangalore

"Delhi is a strategic gateway for the airlines' South Asia operations. We are anticipating increased passenger movement both for inbound as well as outbound with the approaching Commonwealth games," Malaysia Airlines Regional Manager (South Asia Operations) Azahar Hamid told PTI.

The new flights will be be operational from September 1 for fliers leaving Delhi and will be available in Bangalore from September 3, he said.With the increase in the number of flights, the airline will now operate 12 weekly flights from Delhi and seven from Bangalore. The airline will use Boeing 738 aircraft for these new flights.

"It gives us more space to serve our consumers from both sides. It will also provide better connectivity, especially to Indian fliers going to destinations like Australia and China, with a reduced transit time," he added.

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 Bangalore 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, Bangalore and Hyderabad -- which "would complete the medium term expansion plan for the airline."

At present, 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 Airbus A-330 planes on the Mumbai route once the aircraft are delivered, he said.The airline has placed orders for 25 Airbus A-330s and is expecting delivery of the first tranche of aircraft in the first half of 2011.