Malaysia Airlines and Air Mauritius extend code-share agreement

SUBANG – Malaysia Airlines and Air Mauritius have expanded their code share agreement, opening up more international destinations for Air Mauritius passengers.

Under the agreement, Air Mauritius will add its code on Malaysia Airlines’ flights operated to various international destinations including onward connections to Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Shanghai, Beijing, and Bangkok. Connections to domestic points in Malaysia on Malaysia Airlines are scheduled to take off in the first quarter of 2009.

Malaysia Airlines managing director and chief executive officer, Dato’ Sri Idris Jala said: “We are pleased with this development in our existing partnership with Air Mauritius. This is in line with our hub-and-spoke strategy to improve feeder traffic into our trunk routes in order to grow our revenue.

“This year alone, our revenue from the code share increased 20 percent to RM4 million. With the extension of this code share, we are confident that business will continue to grow steadily.”

The two airlines have codeshared since January 2002. The agreement previously only applied to services between Kuala Lumpur and Mauritius. The extension of this codeshare will further strengthen Kuala Lumpur as the gateway for travelers.

Air Mauritius chief executive officer, Manoj R K Ujoodha said, “The strengthening of our long-standing partnership comes at an opportune time for our two airlines as we endeavor to provide more choice to our customers and provide new services from Thailand and China, initially. The agreement will also enable us to develop tourism to Mauritius from hitherto untapped markets.”

In addition, customers can also look forward to the frequent-flyer programs of both airlines being linked, allowing members of both programs to earn and redeem miles when traveling on all flights operated by either airline. This is expected to be made available by the second quarter of 2009.