Mr.Bandit 0 Report post Posted February 15, 2017 Meanwhile.. Air India Express over the weekend operated last Chennai – Kuala Lumpur route, previously served 4 times a week. Last flight on this route, operated by Boeing 737-800, was scheduled on 12FEB17. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yang Zulhilmi 0 Report post Posted February 15, 2017 Sichuan Airlines today (15FEB17) launches new route to Malaysia, offering nonstop Guangzhou Johor Bahru route. Airbus A320 aircraft is scheduled to operate this route twice a week, departing Guangzhou on Wednesdays and Sundays. 3U8801 CAN2055 0025+1JHB 320 37 3U8802 JHB0125 0505CAN 320 14 http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/271417/sichuan-airlines-adds-guangzhou-johor-bahru-from-feb-2017/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Izanee 0 Report post Posted February 15, 2017 Meanwhile.. They didn't even give it a good go. 4 weekly service is just pitiful ... I can't believe that KUL is so crap that AI doesn't fly there direct. There was a time in the nineties that AI flew almost 12 times weekly to KUL. Also we are so low yielding that we don't get a proper Jetstar or Qantas service. So strange when QF was MH's sponsor into OneWorld Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kandiah k 0 Report post Posted February 16, 2017 They didn't even give it a good go. 4 weekly service is just pitiful ... I can't believe that KUL is so crap that AI doesn't fly there direct. There was a time in the nineties that AI flew almost 12 times weekly to KUL. Also we are so low yielding that we don't get a proper Jetstar or Qantas service. So strange when QF was MH's sponsor into OneWorld Yeah exactly. With their cancellation of services into KUL, there is officially no Indian carrier who fly into Malaysia at all. Previously, the bilateral between Malaysia and India only allowed flights into certain points in India and Malaysia respectively, hence why MAA, DEL and BOM were crucial transit points for those intended to fly into other secondary airports. But today, the other points have opened its doors, so flights into other points have become possible with minimal flights into the top three points. In fact BLR, TRZ and COK have seen an increase in passenger numbers and flight frequencies as a result of that. It is still a wonder why the QF group does not fly into any Malaysian points. There are huge number of Malaysians who travel/live down under, that is also a contributing factor to the high loads of MH and D7 flights to Australian points. Like the Indian carriers, the Aussie carries have also not been able to tap on the opportunities here, maybe they are afraid of the stiff competition from MH/OD/D7. :aggressive: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muhammad Firdaus 0 Report post Posted February 16, 2017 Probably they prefer to fly in MH/OD/D7 to Malaysia instead of their own. I don't think it is a problem to KUL. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JuliusWong 0 Report post Posted February 16, 2017 Yeah exactly. With their cancellation of services into KUL, there is officially no Indian carrier who fly into Malaysia at all. Previously, the bilateral between Malaysia and India only allowed flights into certain points in India and Malaysia respectively, hence why MAA, DEL and BOM were crucial transit points for those intended to fly into other secondary airports. But today, the other points have opened its doors, so flights into other points have become possible with minimal flights into the top three points. In fact BLR, TRZ and COK have seen an increase in passenger numbers and flight frequencies as a result of that. It is still a wonder why the QF group does not fly into any Malaysian points. There are huge number of Malaysians who travel/live down under, that is also a contributing factor to the high loads of MH and D7 flights to Australian points. Like the Indian carriers, the Aussie carries have also not been able to tap on the opportunities here, maybe they are afraid of the stiff competition from MH/OD/D7. :aggressive: If I remember vaguely, Jetstar International did fly from SYD to KUL back during their infant years. Or was it from MEL? I could not remember. Malaysia is such a low yield route many airlines find it not worthy to deploy much or if any capacity solely for KUL, rather do a triangular with SIN or not operating at all. Unless you are EK, which can mount three/four widebodies a day, drawing all the passengers away from MH. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flee 5 Report post Posted February 16, 2017 (edited) If I remember vaguely, Jetstar International did fly from SYD to KUL back during their infant years. Or was it from MEL? I could not remember. Malaysia is such a low yield route many airlines find it not worthy to deploy much or if any capacity solely for KUL, rather do a triangular with SIN or not operating at all. Unless you are EK, which can mount three/four widebodies a day, drawing all the passengers away from MH. Foreign airlines serving KUL need to be better than the Malaysian based ones in the following areas, amongst other things: Lower ticket prices Better service and pampering of pax More flexibility in flight date changes Good refund policy Generous checked in baggage allowances If you are a foreign airline with a higher cost base than the Malaysian based airlines, you already start at a disadvantage. Is it a surprise that many airlines that are no longer state owned or state sponsored find it difficult to compete in this kind of market? Edited February 16, 2017 by flee Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jahur 0 Report post Posted February 24, 2017 Thai Airways just opened up booking for BKI on Thai Smiles. Fares are from RM917return not exactly cheap even with the 3 hour 5 min expected flight duration. I could take MAS and save about rm200++ or take Thai Airways widebody for the BKK leg. On another note MAS website quoted me a whooping 4.2k return while booking sectors separately gives me RM716 for the flights. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Khalil Abd Halim 0 Report post Posted February 24, 2017 Thai Airways just opened up booking for BKI on Thai Smiles. Fares are from RM917return not exactly cheap even with the 3 hour 5 min expected flight duration. I could take MAS and save about rm200++ or take Thai Airways widebody for the BKK leg. On another note MAS website quoted me a whooping 4.2k return while booking sectors separately gives me RM716 for the flights. that extra RM200 justifies the convenient of direct flight and most probably superior inflight service than MH. Ive never been on Thai Smiles but before this TG did deploy some Thai SMiles A320 for their morning flight ex KUL. Service wise was still of high quality as per TG's norm but plane lacked IFE. I dont know if it's just me but flying TG even in economy always feels premium due to their high quality service. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jahur 0 Report post Posted February 24, 2017 that extra RM200 justifies the convenient of direct flight and most probably superior inflight service than MH. Ive never been on Thai Smiles but before this TG did deploy some Thai SMiles A320 for their morning flight ex KUL. Service wise was still of high quality as per TG's norm but plane lacked IFE. I dont know if it's just me but flying TG even in economy always feels premium due to their high quality service. Hopefully Thai smiles does heavy marketing. Most of pax exiting out of BKI are cost cautious. As for absence of IFE i think that is not important nowadays but it would be great if they have AC/USB charging port and proper seat pitch instead. I would take the extra RM200 fare if it were to be a Thai Airways A330 being deployed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kris Kim 0 Report post Posted February 25, 2017 If I remember vaguely, Jetstar International did fly from SYD to KUL back during their infant years. Or was it from MEL? I could not remember. Malaysia is such a low yield route many airlines find it not worthy to deploy much or if any capacity solely for KUL, rather do a triangular with SIN or not operating at all. Unless you are EK, which can mount three/four widebodies a day, drawing all the passengers away from MH. JQ operated SYD-KUL for a short time. Well JQ is returning to SGN, although they do have a bigger brand presence in the Vietnamese market through Jetstar Pacific (BL) and face less competition, they also fly MEL-BKK/HKT/SGN/SIN/DPS and SYD-HKT/SGN/DPS, so I think if JQ is looking at expanding in SE Asia next they might look into KUL, or even PEN, BKI next. However for the time being it seems like they want to expand into China. AirAsia is doing a great job flying Aussies into Malaysia and promoting the market, they might consider looking at adding PEN, BKI direct flights into Australia in the future, especially with A320NEO's being able to reach MEL/SYD. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr Chuo Hock Tieng 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2017 (edited) starting 26th Mar 2017 BKK BKI. http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/270302/thai-smile-proposing-kota-kinabalu-launch-in-mar-2017/ Edited March 21, 2017 by Dr Chuo Hock Tieng Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JuliusWong 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2017 Revival of an old route. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Khalil Abd Halim 0 Report post Posted April 1, 2017 (edited) based on my dummy booking for the month of May, TG is reinstating its morning flight and introducing late evening flight to KUL with the flight to be operated by Thai Smile and ET is still flying KUL-BKK route in May?i thought they had discontinued this effective March..... Edited April 1, 2017 by Khalil Abd Halim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kelson 0 Report post Posted April 2, 2017 based on my dummy booking for the month of May, TG is reinstating its morning flight and introducing late evening flight to KUL with the flight to be operated by Thai Smile and ET is still flying KUL-BKK route in May?i thought they had discontinued this effective March..... It'll take effect in June. I'm flying this route next next week - looking forward to it (: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Robert 0 Report post Posted April 2, 2017 Presume that that Thai Smile is as LCC or has LCC seats? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Khalil Abd Halim 0 Report post Posted April 2, 2017 Presume that that Thai Smile is as LCC or has LCC seats? i believe it's more akin to Silk Air for SQ, not LCC but main service to secondary routes and of course tone down frills....no IFE, snacks rather than full course meals etc....in any event, it's at par with MH mainline service..so im not complaining..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Craig 0 Report post Posted April 2, 2017 i believe it's more akin to Silk Air for SQ, not LCC but main service to secondary routes and of course tone down frills....no IFE, snacks rather than full course meals etc....in any event, it's at par with MH mainline service..so im not complaining..... Add no lounge access (except for TG ROP members), no business class, and possibly no interlining besides TG. It not on par with MH at all. Despite what most people here think, MH is not even close to the LCC level. To my knowledge, MH still offers (which some full-service carriers doesn't even offer): - complimentary meals and drinks even on short hops - complimentary checked bags - baggage interlining with OW partners and sometimes with others - complimentary seat assignments (coming soon) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JuliusWong 0 Report post Posted April 3, 2017 Presume that that Thai Smile is as LCC or has LCC seats? Thai Smile has changed their business model so many times that many of us have lost track what is it actually. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Khalil Abd Halim 0 Report post Posted April 3, 2017 Add no lounge access (except for TG ROP members), no business class, and possibly no interlining besides TG. It not on par with MH at all. Despite what most people here think, MH is not even close to the LCC level. To my knowledge, MH still offers (which some full-service carriers doesn't even offer): - complimentary meals and drinks even on short hops - complimentary checked bags - baggage interlining with OW partners and sometimes with others - complimentary seat assignments (coming soon) im talking about inflight service & comfort, except for the lack of IFE, for me their service is similar to MH the so called "5 star value carrier"..whatever that means.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jahur 0 Report post Posted April 3, 2017 Friend just flew with them. Service is on OD level minus Business class products and perks. Seats on economy very tight some rows are at 28seat pitch way below Airasia. Loads on both flights were quite low as well due to fare cost. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Craig 0 Report post Posted April 3, 2017 im talking about inflight service & comfort, except for the lack of IFE, for me their service is similar to MH the so called "5 star value carrier"..whatever that means.... Opps. i misread. Sorry! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adam Lawrence 0 Report post Posted April 10, 2017 Thai Smile resumes Kuala Lumpur service from May 2017 Read more here: http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/272254/thai-smile-resumes-kuala-lumpur-service-from-may-2017/ Source: Airlineroute.net Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flee 5 Report post Posted April 10, 2017 Cathay Dragon from July 2017 to October 2017 is increasing Hong Kong – Penang flights, based on comparison with same period in 2016. The airline from 02JUL17 to 26OCT17 will introduce 12th weekly flight, operated by Airbus A320 aircraft. See http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/272245/cathay-dragon-increases-s17-penang-flights-/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Craig 0 Report post Posted April 10, 2017 Cathay Dragon from July 2017 to October 2017 is increasing Hong Kong Penang flights, based on comparison with same period in 2016. The airline from 02JUL17 to 26OCT17 will introduce 12th weekly flight, operated by Airbus A320 aircraft. See http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/272245/cathay-dragon-increases-s17-penang-flights-/ For those who said KA is an improvement/not a downgrade from CX, we might see KA 320/321 paying KUL a visit soon. 5 times a day on those narrow body or getting subbed for a 1-clas 320. CX group loves frequency more than capacity. Correct me if I am wrong, but is this the first regularly scheduled KA 320/321 into PEN? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites