Malindo Air Moves its Operations from KLIA2 to KLIA

15th Mar 2016

Two years after starting its operations out of KLIA2, Malaysian-based hybrid carrier Malindo Air now moves to KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport).

For Malindo, which is a joint venture company of National Aerospace and Defence Industries Sdn Berhad (NADI) and Lion Air Indonesia, which own 51 and 49 per cent of the carrier, the relocation from KLIA2 to KLIA signifies a change in business model to a full-service carrier.

Malindo Air started operating out of KLIA2 in 2014 and was one of the first carriers to do so. The airline began flying in March 2013 and now covers all major domestic airports and also connects to India, China, Australia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Singapore, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand with a fleet of 16 Boeing 737 Next Generation and 11 ATR72-600 aircraft.

Chandran: We Want to Start Interlining and Codesharing with our Airline Partners

In a statement issued yesterday, Malindo Air Chief Executive Officer Chandran Rama Muthy said:

The main reason for us to move to KLIA is because we want to accommodate our airline partners, with whom we are keen to start interlining and a codeshare partnership.

Malindo Air CEO also added:

We hope that in the long term we will be able to contribute positively to the growth of the nation’s aviation and tourism industries, and therefore boost the economic growth of the country further.

Also, when it comes to Malindo’s operations from Subang, Selangor, Mr Chandran said this relocation will not affect them and that the airline will continue flying from the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport as it did so far.

In addition, Chandran also said that all Malindo Air’s passengers have been notified of the change in advance, so there shouldn’t be any problems on that end either.

Malaysia Airlines Holdings (MAH) Managing Director Reveals Reason for Malindo’s Move

In February, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAH) Managing Director Badlisham Ghazali gave a good explanation as to why it’s good for Malindo Air Sdn Bhd to move out of KLIA2 and move into KLIA. He said that, as the hybrid carrier is looking to transition into a full-service airline, many services its business-class customers will demand will be more available at KLIA.

MAH Managing Director commented:

They also require a shorter turnaround time for the transfers in their cooperative engagement with the foreign carriers operation out of KLIA.

Malindo Air started operating out of KLIA2 in 2014 and was one of the first carriers to do so. The airline began flying in March 2013 and now covers all major domestic airports and also connects to India, China, Australia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Singapore, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand with a fleet of 16 Boeing 737 Next Generation and 11 ATR72-600 aircraft.