MAS to offer daily Auckland flights

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is increasing the number of Kuala Lumpur-Auckland flights from six to seven times a week after strong results on the route.

Beginning March 30, 2014, the airline will run daily flights to New Zealand's largest city, offering an additional 52 flights a year.

The airline’s regional senior vice president Australia/New Zealand/South West Pacific, Lee Poh Kait, said: “This additional frequency for Auckland is in tandem with our overall expansion plan for 2014 and beyond. We are excited to see sharp increases in our load factors on all our flights plying the New Zealand and Australia routes.”

Added Dzulkefli Zakaria, New Zealand country manager for MAS: “This is also a perfect time to add capacity, especially in line with Visit Malaysia Year 2014.”

Meanwhile Glenn Wedlock, general manager aeronautical commercial for Auckland Airport, reported that Malaysian visitors to New Zealand increased 50 per cent in September.

“As part of our Ambition 2020 Asia strategy, we have been working very hard to secure growth from the High Opportunity Target, 'HOT', markets of Malaysia, India and emerging South-east Asia.”

“This latest increase from MAS will not only drive additional visitor spend in the tourism sector by at least US$10 million per annum but also provide New Zealand travellers and exporters even greater access to these important destinations for travel and trade,” he said.

-TTG Asia.