KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 (Sin Chew Daily) – Four Chinese airlines are expected to reveal details about their direct flights to Malaysia in year end, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.
Liow, who is also MCA President, told Sin Chew Daily that MCA leaders have achieved consensus in having direct flights between China and Malaysia with a few Chinese airlines during a recent visit to China, and official announcements will be made after the details are finalised with the Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB).
He said that the four airlines are the Juneyao Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Air China which will use the KLIA, and the 9 Air Company Limited, which will use the KLIA2.
He also revealed that Air China will have Kuala Lumpur-bound flights from Shanghai and Beijing, while China Eastern Airlines will have direct from Shanghai to Langkawi, Sabah and other states of Malaysia. Juneyao Airlines mainly provides charted flight services and the 9 Air Company Limited will focus on the budget airlines market.
He said that some airlines companies still need further negotiations with him, “but it goes positively, they will fly to Malaysia.”
He said that the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia will not be affected as the Chinese market is too vast and thus, more flights are needed to facilitate tourists, while bringing more business opportunities to MAS and AirAsia.
For instance, Juneyao Airlines suggested that MAS can carry their passengers to other destinations like Melbourne and London, after they have reached Kuala Lumpur.
Liow said that the Malaysia-China cooperation platform has been initiated while cooperation plans have been implemented during the recent visit to China.
He said that efforts have been made in tightening mutual cooperation.