KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia Airlines has launched of an air pass that offers deep discounts on fares for travel in the Southeast Asia region.
The airlines hopes the move will help fill its seats during a period when airlines are suffering losses due to falling demand.
The Malaysian national carrier reported losses for the first quarter of its financial year, as a result of overcapacity, losses due to fuel hedging and reduced passenger and cargo demand caused by the global economic downturn.
Idris Jala, the airline’s managing director, said that business has improved during the second quarter with a 67 percent load factor in June and 76 percent in July.
The Malaysia Airlines pass offers four prepaid one-way tickets at a cost of US$229 in economy class and US$729 in business class, and includes fuel surcharges and all fees.
Airport taxes are paid separately by passengers.
Tickets have a three-month period of validity and can be used on flights from Kuala Lumpur to destinations with the countries that comprise ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) – or from those countries to Kuala Lumpur.
“It’s a massive discount (on fares). Kuala Lumpur will be the base and hub, so it will bring a lot of tourists to Malaysia, †Idris said.
