MAS has revealed that it will drop its Kuala Lumpur to Brisbane, Australia route beginning August. The last flight operating between to the Queensland capital will fly on Saturday, 8th August, the carrier said.
The airline said the following in a statement regarding this decision:
Malaysia Airlines is undertaking a network rationalization exercise as part of the national carrier’s 12-point MAS Recovery Plan announced last year. Customers holding tickets to and from the affected routes will be re-accommodated on alternative carriers or be eligible for a refund.
No Warning by the Carrier, Brisbane Airport Disappointed at Decision
A spokeswoman for the Brisbane Airport Corporation Leonie Vandeven said there was no warning from Malaysia Airlines that it will end its service to this city.
Vandeven said:
We were disappointed, and must confess surprised, to read the news that our partnership with Malaysia Airlines spanning some 25 years has ended so suddenly. This is a loss for Queensland and for Malaysian travellers to Queensland. Nonetheless, we wish Malaysia Airlines well and remain committed to the market.
Qantas Not Looking to Kula Lumpur Routes at the Moment
A spokesperson for Malaysia Airlines’ Oneworld partner, Qantas, said that the Australian carrier is ‘always looking for opportunities’ for its network, but she also said:
However, at this time we’re not considering commencing services to Kuala Lumpur.
Before Malaysia Airlines, another carrier, Garuda Indonesia also decided to cancel its daily service to Brisbane. The Indonesian airline axed the Bali-Brisbane route in January this year.
“MAS Was in Serious Operational Turmoil”
Earlier this month, Malaysia Airlines chief executive Christoph Mueller said the company was in serious operational problems. Mueller also said that MAS was technically bankrupt.
A big part of Malaysia Airlines’ financial woes came from the disappearance of MH370 and from the shooting down of MH17 aircrafts that both happened last year.