India, 04 August 2025 – Following encouraging load factors and sustained demand on its Trivandrum – Kuala Lumpur route, Malaysia Airlines is set to further expand its presence in South India by increasing frequencies to the city. Beginning 12 September 2025, the airline will introduce a fifth weekly service, with daily operations to commence from 1 December 2025. Tickets for the new frequencies will be available with immediate effect. This marks a significant step forward since the route’s launch in November 2023, which initially operated twice weekly before increasing to four times weekly in April 2024.

The airline has also partnered with Kerala Tourism under “Look East” initiative, launched in Trivandrum to strengthen travel ties between East Asia and Kerala.

The increase in frequency reaffirms Malaysia Airlines’ commitment to the Indian market by offering travellers greater flexibility and convenience, while enhancing connectivity between India and Malaysia. Through its hub in Kuala Lumpur, the airline continues to strengthen its role as the gateway to Asia and beyond.

Dersenish Aresandiran, Chief Commercial Officer of Airlines from Malaysia Aviation Group said, “India remains a key focus market for Malaysia Airlines, and this frequency increase reaffirms our dedication to meeting the growing demand for air travel from South India. With daily flights to Trivandrum, we are well-positioned to offer greater flexibility and convenience for both business and leisure travellers, while supporting trade and tourism flows between our two countries.”

Malaysia Airlines currently operates 76 weekly flights across ten key cities in India including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, and Trivandrum. With the new additions, this number will increase to 77 weekly flights by December 2025.

Passengers flying from India to Malaysia can also take advantage of Malaysia Airlines’ Bonus Side Trip (BST) programme, which offers a complimentary side trip to one of seven domestic destinations within Malaysia. This value-added offering allows international travellers to explore more of Malaysia’s unique culture, nature, and heritage—all within a single itinerary.

For more information or to book, visit malaysiaairlines.com or download the mobile app for the latest deals and promotions.

(Yicai) Aug. 4 — China’s civil aviation sector saw a slight uptick in July amid the summer travel rush, but ticket prices are still under pressure, with the average economy fare tumbling 7.5 percent from a year earlier, according to the latest data.

The number of passengers that flew on domestic routes in July climbed 3 percent from a year earlier to 60.3 million, according to statistics from state-backed flight information provider Air Travel Navigator. While passenger numbers on international routes surged 10 percent to 7.7 million.

Ticket sales to tourist hotspots saw much faster growth. Bookings to popular cities such as Xining in western Qinghai province as well as Lijiang and Dali in southwestern Yunnan province jumped more than 13 percent year on year, while bookings to several cities in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region surged by over 10 percent, Zhao Nan, general manager of the industry development department at Air Travel Navigator, told Yicai.

The summer travel boom this year was not as strong as expected, a marketing executive at an airline said. “The first part of July was not bad, but after the middle of the month passenger loads began to decline and it became difficult to raise prices.”

The average price of an economy class ticket on a domestic route slumped 7.5 percent in July from a year earlier to CNY840 (USD117), including fuel surcharges, according to data from flight tracking platform Flight Manager. This is also a 5 percent drop from the same period in 2019, the year before the pandemic.

Of the 20 most popular domestic routes, only the Hangzhou-Shenzhen route saw fares go up, while prices on the rest declined to various degrees. Fares on 11 of these, including the Chongqing to Beijing route, plunged by more than 10 percent from a year ago.

The July-August summer travel season is usually one of the most profitable times of the year for airlines, second only to the Chinese New Year travel rush. It is also a key time for airlines to add international flights. However, this year, international flight volumes are only back to 89.1 percent of 2019 levels, according to the latest statistics from Flight Manager.

The pattern of international routes flown by Chinese airlines has changed significantly since before the pandemic, industry insiders told Yicai. Flights to and from Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East now account for over 70 percent of international flights, while traditional long-haul routes to Europe and the United States, remain well below pre-pandemic levels due to reciprocal air rights restrictions.

In terms of the most popular international destinations, the number of flights to Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan and Laos in July exceeded the same period in 2019, according to Flight Manager. However, flights to Thailand are only at 54.6 percent of 2019 levels, while those to Cambodia and the Philippines are still less than 50 percent, and flights to North America are under 30 percent of what they were before the pandemic.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Kim Taylor

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is preparing to launch direct flights to Thailand and Vietnam in response to increasing demand from travellers. The move is set to significantly improve connectivity, reduce travel time, and enhance access to two of Southeast Asia’s most popular destinations.

Currently, passengers must take connecting flights via hubs such as Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, often adding over 10 hours to their journey. The proposed direct flights—reducing travel time to approximately five hours—will not only streamline transit but also encourage greater tourism and business activity between Kerala and Southeast Asia.

Airport authorities have confirmed they are in advanced discussions with multiple airlines and relevant regulatory bodies. Several carriers have shown interest in expanding operations from the city, including launching new routes and increasing flight frequencies to Thailand and Vietnam. Tour operators report growing interest from travellers exploring the region, especially to Ho Chi Minh City, with many combining trips to Vietnam and Cambodia.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance Thiruvananthapuram’s status as a major international hub. The airport currently offers direct flights to destinations including Dubai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Doha, Sharjah, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Dammam, and the Maldives. The addition of Southeast Asian routes will further elevate its network reach.

With rising international passenger volumes, airport authorities are investing in service upgrades and infrastructure expansion. Passenger traffic is expected to grow from current levels to approximately 3.96 million by 2030, 5.32 million by 2040, and 11.45 million by 2070.

Improved air links are also expected to generate broader economic benefits. Increased international tourist arrivals will support the local economy through growth in hospitality, retail, logistics, and manufacturing sectors. Enhanced trade ties with Southeast Asia could also attract investment in technology and industrial development.

This connectivity initiative aligns with wider regional development goals and positions Thiruvananthapuram as a key gateway for international movement of people and goods. As Southeast Asia continues to emerge as a global economic powerhouse, stronger air links will be essential for sustaining growth and prosperity across the region.