Malaysia Airlines Joins oneworld

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· World’s premier airline alliance adds another leading award-winning Asian carrier
· oneworld network expanded in one of world’s fastest growing regional economies
· Malaysia Airlines aircraft unveiled in oneworld livery as part of marketing drive
· oneworld Visit Malaysia pass offered to encourage tourism throughout Malaysia
· Double miles promotion for frequent flyers to celebrate
· New benefits added for top tier oneworld frequent flyers
· Malaysian Transport Minister witnesses its welcome on board at Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia Airlines becomes part of oneworld® at midnight Kuala Lumpur time tonight, 31 January 2013, adding one of Asia’s leading airlines to the global airline alliance that aims to be the first choice for frequent international travellers the world over.

From its first flight tomorrow morning – MH386 which leaves Kuala Lumpur at 1.40 am for Shanghai Pudong – the national airline of Malaysia will be offering oneworld’s full range of services and benefits. Another key focus flight for the airline tomorrow will be the first departure by the first of its aircraft featuring the full oneworld livery – an Airbus A330-300 operating flight MH 129 to Melbourne from Kuala Lumpur at 10.15 am.

For Malaysia Airlines, joining oneworld completes the latest phase of its repositioning plan. Becoming part of the world’s premier global airline alliance will strengthen its competitiveness, enabling it to offer customers an unrivalled alliance global network served by partners including some of the best and biggest airlines in the world.

Customers benefit from expanded global network and increased competition

Malaysia Airlines, which serves more than 60 destinations in almost 30 countries, will substantially expand the alliance’s network in one of the world’s fastest growing economic powerhouses, South East Asia.

Its addition to oneworld makes Malaysia – which has one of the world’s 30 biggest national economies and with a population of almost 30 million – a home market for the alliance. Its capital Kuala Lumpur, the world’s 10th most visited city by international visitors according to the latest annual Mastercard survey, is now a oneworld hub.

Malaysia Airlines connects new 16 destinations and one country – Brunei – to the oneworld map. More significantly, it will strengthen the alliance’s connectivity between many key business cities in Asia and other parts of the world.

Its addition expands oneworld’s global coverage to 842 destinations in 156 countries, served by some 9,000 departures a day operated by a combined fleet of some 2,500 aircraft, carrying nearly 340 million passengers a year, with annual revenues of US$ 110 billion. Add oneworld’s other members elect – Qatar Airways and Sri Lankan Airlines – and the alliance network will reach 860 destinations in 159 countries.

Currently three of oneworld’s active member airlines serve three points in Malaysia, with Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Royal Jordanian flying to Kuala Lumpur, Cathay Pacific operating to Penang and its Dragonair regional affiliate to Kota Kinabalu.

British Airways, Thursday, January 31st, 2013