Business
Malaysia Airlines seeks more India slots after 13% growth
The Hindu BusinessLine··6d ago
Malaysia Airlines CEO Nasaruddin A Bakar said the airline wants more India bilateral slots. India traffic rose 13 percent year on year in the first half of 2026, about 1 million of 10.6 million passengers. It operates 80 weekly India flights at a 91 percent average load factor. Fuel costs rose to 55 percent of operating costs.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Codeshare with IndiGo already adds six India destinations beyond the airline's own network.
- Capacity was cut 5 percent and airfares hiked 20 percent as Gulf war fuel costs rose.
- Further India frequencies depend on bilateral traffic rights and slot talks with agencies.
What's Happening
- Corporate travel demand from India grew about 40 percent and VFR demand about 24 percent.
- India accounts for nearly 10 percent of the airline's first-half passenger traffic.
- Malaysia Airlines currently serves 10 destinations in India on its own metal.
What Is Constraining Expansion
- Bakar said bilateral traffic rights restrict further network growth in India.
- Fuel's share of operating cost rose from 40 percent to 55 percent after the Gulf war.
- The carrier hedged 36 percent of its 2026 fuel as a mitigating step.
all-news
