Malaysia Airlines looking to enhance flight frequency to cities in India, but rules out domestic joint venture

Malaysia Airlines Berhad (LLC in Malaysian) considers India an “interesting” and vital market, and hopes to be recognised as a key international connector for the country, said Izham bin Ismail, Group Managing Director of Malaysia Aviation Group Berhad.Ismail has confirmed that the airline has no plans to enter the domestic Indian aviation sector via joint ventures. Instead, it aims to continue serving the Indian market as a foreign carrier.”We wish to capitalise on the rapid economic growth of India, but we are not an India-based airline. However, we wish that India accepts us as one of core service providers that connects India to the rest of the world,” Ismail said in an interaction with PTI.
Also read | Dirty seats: IndiGo ordered to pay ₹1.75 lakh for harassment to female travellerCurrently, India is Malaysia Airlines’ highest revenue-generating market, with 77 weekly flights operating to 10 Indian cities. Australia and the United Kingdom follow in terms of revenue contribution. In the first half of 2025 alone, the airline transported 1.3 million passengers to and from India, which accounted for 11% of its total revenue and 20% of passenger volume.By 1 December 2025, the airline plans to scale up operations to 80 flights per week. “I see the urbanisation rate of India is 40% where middle-class income earners are increasing with people having a comfortable, disposable income. A GDP of 6.5 per cent, of 1.4 billion people with nearly 100 airports that India has. India is a really interesting market,” he noted.Ismail emphasised that despite not being an Indian carrier, Malaysia Airlines aims to contribute significantly to India’s global connectivity. “We see India as a very dynamic country and we want to be part of that journey of its growth and ambition. We know that we are not an India-based airline, but, at least, we would like to be part of 10 or 15 per cent of that journey,” he said.
Also read | Netizens make fun of ₹2,400 crore Lucknow airport terminal as roof leaks amid rainsOn the matter of establishing a joint venture or local entity, Ismail drew a clear line. “Why should I go to somebody’s home and create havoc to a certain extent? I would rather visit you from time to time. And I would rather be friends with you rather than trying to build a house in your compound, right? So while it is an expansion strategy of some companies, but (at) Malaysia Airlines, we believe in a deep partnership,” he remarked.Malaysia Airlines currently benefits from a strong collaboration with IndiGo and also maintains a healthy working relationship with Air India. The airline uses Kuala Lumpur as a hub to connect Indian passengers to destinations such as China, Australia, and New Zealand, particularly in cases where direct air links between those countries and India are limited or absent.”So we have a hub through Kuala Lumpur to China and we have strong partners,” he noted.In terms of growth plans, Ismail said no new Indian destinations are on the immediate horizon for 2025, though opportunities may arise in 2026. For now, the focus is on enhancing frequency on existing routes.”Predominantly our target 2026–2027 onwards is seats capacity,” he said. “We are watching the marketplaces like Jaipur and all that. The team is evaluating. So the strategy now is increasing frequency. A lot of airlines have products in food, cabin, in-flight entertainment and many others, but the other product that we must really not forget is frequency and connectivity.”On the topic of fleet expansion, Ismail highlighted the airline’s approach of balancing aircraft acquisitions with investments in customer experience.
“We have invested a lot on customer experience, food, cabin services, and we are ordering new planes. So we believe very strongly in working with partners, airline partners,” he said. “So you don’t splash money to buy aeroplanes. You invest at the right place where it matters most, which is our customer.”

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