Strong year so far for Malaysia Airlines

Malaysia Airlines has announced that it is currently "flying high" after experiencing rising load factors and record profits this year.

The Kuala Lumpur-based carrier recently released figures covering the second quarter of the year which showed that it made a net profit of 876 million ringgits (£150 million), its highest earnings on record.

Load factor - the rate at which the airline fills its planes - increased by ten per cent to reach 66 per cent on domestic routes in Malaysia and rose 11 per cent to 65 per cent on international services.

This strong performance led Aviation Week to name Malaysia Airlines one of its top three mainline carriers for 2009.

The airline's regional manager for the UK and Ireland, Syed Abdillah Aziz, said: "Malaysia Airlines will continue to move onwards and upwards; we have already increased capacity for the domestic sector by six per cent and in 2010 will take delivery of a new B737-800.

"October 29th 2009 marks our move to Heathrow's improved Terminal 4, where first and business class guests will have access to Malaysia Airlines' new and luxurious Golden Lounges. There are exciting times ahead."

The carrier offers direct flights to Kuala Lumpur from Heathrow Airport, which provide the opportunity for travellers to connect to onward flights to Auckland, Jakarta, Sydney and other destinations.

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