Airline plays the Games - Malaysia Airlines services to Australia for 2000 Olympic Games

Business Asia, April 5, 1999

Malaysia Airlines has ensured it is in the race to cash in on 2000 Olympic Games gold by boosting services to Australia.

The fourth-largest international airline operating in Australia, Malaysia Airlines has increased flight numbers out of and in to Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Cairns. The airline's total departures from Australia will rise by six weekly to 43 from 37.

An airline spokesman said the increase in flights was made due to increased visitor numbers to Australia, and the expected rise next year as a result of the Olympic Games.

Malaysia Airlines' global network covers 118 destinations across six continents, and has the widest coverage of Malaysia with 36 destinations available.

The airline has flown to Australia for 25 years and has five core business areas: passenger service, ground service, engineering, catering and cargo.

Keeping its corporate name in the public eye, Malaysia Airlines signed its fourth Australian arts sponsorship in February entering into partnership with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

The airline is also the National Tour Partner for the Bell Shakespeare Company, a major sponsor for Opera Australia, and international and national tour sponsor for the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

The airline is also part of the official Olympic Airline Team for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Also in February, Malaysia Airlines released its new stopover brochure, offering a range of accommodation and tour packages priced at competitive prices.

Stopover packages also include a free side flight to one of 12 Malaysian domestic destinations for eligible passengers travelling to specified destinations beyond Malaysia.

In June 1998, Malaysia Airlines' new Boeing fleet began flights from seven Australian ports.

The airline's B777 plane, which was already used on weekly services from Perth and Brisbane, was introduced last year to Adelaide, Cairns and Darwin.

Eighty per cent of the airline's Sydney and Melbourne departures are on enhanced Boeing 747-400, an aircraft which reflects the B777's interior.

The B777 and B747-700 offer a world-first Business Centre with printer, fax, telephone, multimedia library and reference materials.

Each first and business class seat has a telephone, PC outlet and personal video with large screen.

In other news, Malaysia Airlines is on track to meet its target of registering some 200,000 passengers/or its new frequent flyer program, Enrich, by year-end. More than 70,000 passengers have already signed up as members.

The national carrier's loyalty and frequent flyer program manager, Mr Ch'ng Teik Cheng, said a total of 72,973 passengers had signed up to participate in the Enrich frequent flyer program as at March 19.