PERTH (March 26): British Airways will restart daily flights to Kuala Lumpur from April 2 this year, four years after axing the Malaysian capital from its route network in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We had a good discussion with the British Airways team here,” Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) (KL:AIRPORT) senior general manager of strategy Megat Ardian Wira Mohd Aminuddin told Malaysian journalists at the Routes Asia 2025 event here on Wednesday. “They are very excited about it.”

Initial load factors and sales appear “good” and the airport operator is already in discussion with British Airways for potential increase in frequency, he said.

British Airways’ return to KL has been long drawn after it permanently cut its service in 2021 due to the Covid-19 situation. The London to KL route is lucrative for airlines flying both leisure and business travellers, according to MAHB.

The UK's flag carrier was set to relaunch its flights to KL in November 2024, but had to postpone launching the route due to excessive wear and tear on its Boeing 787 engines that will make the 13-hour journey.

It's not the first time British Airways is relaunching its flights to KL. The airline had previously flown on the route, but discontinued it in 2001. It reinstated flights to KL in March 2015.

Meanwhile, Megat said MAHB is targeting oneworld Alliance member airlines in Europe, as well as other airlines in Europe outside the 13-member airline alliance, to boost connectivity.

While MAHB is also looking to bring in US-based airlines, the group is focusing more on Europe for long-haul flights, he added.

MAHB’s stock had been delisted from the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia since Feb 25, following its privatisation by Gateway Development Alliance Sdn Bhd (GDA) — a consortium led by Khazanah Nasional Bhd and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

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