Malaysia and Singapore Airlines to Expand Codeshare Agreement

(19 Nov 2021)  Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines have confirmed plans to reactivate their codeshare arrangement between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, and expand it to include fifteen domestic points in Malaysia, seven destinations in Europe, and two cities in South Africa.

Previously, the airlines had a codeshare arrangement on flights between Singapore Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Penang. However, due to a reduced flight schedule as a result of COVI19, SIA does not currently operate flights to Kuching and Penang and Malaysia Airlines does not operate flights to Kuching.

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.

Malaysia Airlines Airbus A350-900 reg: 9M-MAC. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com

The two countries will launch a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) on 29 November 2021.

From that date, Singapore Airlines customers will be able to progressively connect on Malaysia Airlines services out of Kuala Lumpur as the carrier adds 15 the following new codeshare destinations in Malaysia: 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 flights from Singapore to the following 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 arrangement 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."

The codeshare flights are subject to regulatory approvals and will be progressively made available for sale through each airline's respective channels.