Malaysia’s first hybrid airline, Malindo Air, is set to introduce flight services to Perth, Australia in November this year using Boeing 737-900 aircraft.
See Malindo’s in flight product and safety record.
Malindo Air chief executive officer Chandran Rama Muthy said the airline is currently awaiting the approval from the local authorities and is expected to get the nod by early October. “The additional new routes for Malindo mark the growth of the airline simultaneously with the growth of its fleet this year,” he told reporters after the launch of its first lounge at klia2.
Malindo began service in March 2013 with domestic flights and has since grown to operate routes to all major airports in Malaysia and across regional destinations in Indonesia, Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Singapore.
The new route will be the third option for West Australians traveling to Kuala Lumpur alongside AirAsiaX and Malaysian Airlines.
Malindo, whilst utilising a single aisle aircraft as supposed to the more spacious twin aisle aircraft used by its competitors, will be an attractive option as it offers a better in flight product than AirAsiaX such as in flight entertainment and snacks but comes at an often lower price than leading full service carrier Malaysia Airlines.
Chandran said to support the airlines growth, Malindo would take delivery of an additional four new generation Boeing 737 aircraft by the end of
this year.
The airline had grown by leaps and bounds to a fleet of 23 aircraft, comprising 11 ATR72-600 and 12 Boeing 737NG as of August this year, he said.
He said the additional routes would increase the incoming tourists through the airline from the one million tourists recorded last year, out of its total load factor of 2.5 million passengers. On the Malindo Air Executive Lounge, Chandran said it would be opened from 6am to 10pm daily to cater to the airline’s flying guests.
The airline’s Business Class passengers, Malindo Miles Platinum cardholders and Malindo Corporate Gold member will receive complimentary access to the lounge. The entrance fee for economy class passengers is RM65 for adults and RM30 for children for a three-hour access.
