Malaysia Airlines is shifting its focus to the Indian market, given the uncertain reopening of China after years of Covid restrictions. The carrier’s Chief Strategy Officer, Bryan Foong, said that India is now their primary emphasis for growth, as they explore new opportunities in the country.
With China’s travel industry still facing a slow recovery, Malaysia Airlines plans to operate 60 flights per week to South Asia this year, as opposed to 27 services to China. The airline plans to investigate fresh possibilities in China, but it is being careful and deliberate in its approach.
The Asian airline lobby group stated that China’s air travel levels may take at least a year to return to pre-pandemic levels, with persistent testing requirements still dissuading visitors from entering the country. Meanwhile, AirAsia X Bhd. has stated that “a lot of people are still uncertain” about travelling to and from Asia’s largest economy.
India’s travel market has nearly recovered to pre-pandemic levels, with around 14.5 million people travelling to and from the country in the three months that ended 31 December, compared to 16.5 million in the same period in 2019. Before Covid disrupted global travel, India was the world’s fastest-growing aviation market.
In addition to its emphasis on India, Malaysia Airlines is also seeking to reallocate its passenger capacity from domestic markets to international ones. This is in response to concerns of overcapacity among carriers in the country, as well as the challenges of high fuel prices, rising interest rates, and a strong dollar, according to the Chief Executive Officer, Izham Ismail.
The airline has plans to take deliveries of four out of 25 Boeing Co 737 Max jets on order, starting from the third quarter of this year. The company remains optimistic about travel demand in the near future, despite the macroeconomic environment’s ongoing challenges.
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