Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Malaysian Airlines Seeks India Partnerships and Network Expansion
Malaysia Airlines wants to work with more companies in India.
Its CEO says any partnership should be good for both sides.
The airline already works with IndiGo, which helps passengers connect to more places in India.
It serves 10 Indian destinations and flies there 80 times each week.
The airline says it could grow further if it received more flight rights and airport slots.
India is an important market, with about one million passengers in the first half of 2026.
Demand from business travelers and people visiting family and friends has increased.
At the same time, higher fuel costs have led the airline to cut some flights and raise fares.
CEO Nasruddin A Bakar said the airline is open to partnerships with Indian companies if both sides benefit.
The carrier flies to 10 destinations in India and operates 80 weekly flights, but says bilateral traffic rights limit expansion.
India accounted for about one million passengers, nearly 10% of the airline’s 10.6 million passengers in the first half of 2026.
The airline reported year-on-year India growth of 13%, with corporate demand up about 40% and VFR demand up about 24%.
Rising fuel costs prompted a 5% capacity cut, a 20% fare increase, and fuel hedging for 36% of its 2026 needs.
- Who
- Malaysia Airlines and its CEO, Nasruddin A Bakar.
- What
- The airline is open to partnerships in India and wants to expand its network, but says bilateral traffic rights limit growth.
- When
- The announcement was reported on October 11, 2026; passenger and growth figures cover the first half of 2026.
- Where
- India and Malaysia.
- Why
- The airline cites strong Indian passenger demand and says additional traffic rights, frequencies, and slots would allow it to expand.
- Indian destinations served
- 10
- Weekly flights
- 80
- India passengers, first half of 2026
- About 1 million
- India passenger growth
- 13% year-on-year
- Average India network load factor
- 91%
- Fuel share of operating costs
- Rose to 55%, from 40% earlier
- Fuel-cost mitigation
- Capacity cut by 5%, fares raised by 20%, and 36% of 2026 fuel hedged