MAHB to Explore Long-Haul Flight Opportunities from Europe This Year
PERTH – Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) is aiming to boost long-haul flights, particularly from European airlines, as part of Malaysia’s efforts to strengthen global connectivity.
MAHB’s Senior General Manager of Strategy, Megat Ardian Wira Mohd Aminuddin, said that Routes World 2025 in Hong Kong will offer a key opportunity for MAHB to engage with European carriers as well as airlines from North Africa and the Middle East.
“There will be many one-on-one and strategic meetings with European airlines. We have a fairly ambitious target and are currently working with more than 12 airlines to operate in Malaysia this year,” he said at the Routes Asia 2025 event held here.
Megat Ardian also highlighted MAHB’s dual-pronged strategy—to attract new airlines while also strengthening relationships with existing ones.
“We’re working with airlines to increase flight frequencies, introduce new routes, and explore the possibility of upgrading aircraft capacity—from smaller aircraft to larger ones.
“We also have a strong incentive programme in place for airlines that introduce new routes and increase flight frequencies,” he added.
Meanwhile, Megat Ardian said Routes Asia 2025 concluded with positive outcomes for Malaysia, as the country continues to expand its air connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
He noted that the programme yielded fruitful discussions on new routes, frequency increases, and aircraft upgrades through strategic meetings with 18 targeted airlines.
Although smaller in scale compared to World Routes, the event was highly focused, involving meetings with many Asia-Pacific airlines, airlines from the Indian subcontinent, and carriers from China, Korea, Japan, and ASEAN nations.
“There was more targeted discussion around existing routes, potential new routes, and capacity upgrades.
“Thus, engagement with these 18 airlines is a positive sign. We provided them with information on flight connectivity, optimal slot times, and potential transfer markets,” he said.
Routes Asia 2025 is a major aviation event that brought together more than 110 airlines and 160 airports from the Asia-Pacific route development community.
Held from March 25 to 27, 2025, at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event attracted over 900 delegates, including airport representatives, airlines, tourism authorities, and key stakeholders in the aviation sector.
Routes Asia 2025 served as a crucial platform for decision-makers to participate in over 3,000 face-to-face meetings, exchange best practices, and explore new air service opportunities.
The event also featured conference sessions led by international experts in aviation and tourism.
Perth Airport and Tourism Western Australia officially handed over the hosting duties for Routes Asia to China West Airport Group, which will host Routes Asia 2026 in Xi’an, China, in March 2026.
The 2026 edition will be co-hosted by China West Airport Group and Xi’an Xianyang International Airport at the Xi’an International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
— BERNAMA
