Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines (SIA) 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 29 November 2021, providing customers with seamless journeys for their business or leisure travel.
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 29 November 2021, 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.
Other points in the Singapore Airlines or Malaysia Airlines network will be progressively added to the codeshare arrangements.
This significant expansion of the codeshare arrangements1 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. This is indeed very timely considering the upcoming festive season and year-end holidays where residents of both countries have traditionally spent their time either in Singapore or Malaysia. We look forward to more VTLs for Malaysia so we can safely revive travel globally. 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, said: “Partnerships with like-minded carriers are an integral part of Singapore Airlines’ strategy. 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. The partnership is a testament to the spirit of collaboration that underpins the strong and long-standing relationship between Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.”
Subject to regulatory approvals, the codeshare flights will be progressively made available for sale through the airlines’ respective booking channels.
1Today, the airlines have codeshare arrangements on flights between Singapore Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Penang. Due to a reduced flight schedule as a result of Covid-19, SIA does not currently operate flights to Kuching and Penang and Malaysia Airlines does not operate flights to Kuching.
