Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines have announced that they will reactivate their codeshare arrangement between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, and expand it to include 15 domestic points in Malaysia, seven destinations in Europe, and two cities in South Africa.
This follows the announcement that Malaysia and Singapore will launch a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) arrangement beginning November 2021.
According to a press statement, the substantial expansion of the codeshare arrangements, within Malaysia and beyond the two countries, comes amid the gradual reopening of international borders and an increase in the demand for air travel.
From November 29, Singapore Airlines customers will be able to progressively connect on Malaysia Airlines services out of Kuala Lumpur as the carrier adds 15 new codeshare destinations in Malaysia. These are Alor Setar, Bintulu, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Kuching, Labuan, Langkawi, Miri, Penang, Sandakan, Sibu, and Tawau.
From 1 January 2022, Malaysia Airlines customers will be able to connect on SIA’s flights from Singapore to seven points in Europe – Barcelona, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Moscow, Munich, Rome, and Zurich – as well as Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa.
This significant expansion of the codeshare arrangements is the first phase of a wide-ranging commercial agreement that Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines signed in 2019. Under this agreement, the airlines plan to undertake a joint business arrangement between Malaysia and Singapore, subject to regulatory approvals. This would allow the partners to coordinate flight schedules, offer joint fare products, align corporate programmes, and explore tie-ups between the KrisFlyer and Enrich frequent flyer programmes.
Both carriers will also explore joint tourism marketing initiatives and multi-stop itineraries, which would enable customers to travel to more destinations in Malaysia through Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.Mr Izham Ismail, Group Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Airlines said, “Malaysia Airlines looks forward to the long-awaited Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, the first VTL for Malaysia. Our codeshare expansion with SIA to Europe and South Africa couldn’t happen at a better time and we are especially grateful for the synergy and warm relationship between the two airlines, that has made this partnership possible.”
Mr Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines, added “The expanded cooperation between Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines coincides with the launch of Vaccinated Travel Lanes between Singapore and Malaysia, and will offer enhanced connectivity and greater convenience when customers travel to meet their loved ones or fly for business. It will also help to boost the tourism industries in both countries, as well as the wider Southeast Asia region”
