KUWAIT AIRWAYS MAKES MAIDEN FLIGHT INTO KLIA AFTER SEVEN-YEAR HIATUS

SEPANG, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- Kuwait Airways’ inaugural flight to Malaysia after a seven-year hiatus touched down at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 11.40 am today.

ATS Global Travel and Charter Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk A. Aziz Ahmad said the airline would fly twice a week to KLIA for starters and increase its frequency to three times a week beginning next month.

“We are now in the COVID-19 recovery process. We can expect the frequency to increase in the future.

“This is good for Malaysia because more tourists will be visiting not only from Middle Eastern countries but also travellers from other nations where Kuwait Airways has codesharing with certain airlines,” he told reporters after welcoming the passengers arriving at KLIA on the airline’s flight KU409 today.

ATS is the airline’s general service agent in Malaysia.

Using the Boeing 777-300ER, the full-fledged flight today had 208 passengers, including first class and business class.  Also present at the ceremony was Kuwait Airways Thailand and Malaysia senior country manager Ali Alkhuzaiem.

Aziz said depending on the airline’s codesharing with other airlines, Malaysian travellers could also alternatively travel directly via Kuwait Airways to their destination around the world without having to transit.

Separately, Aziz said the company also has a collaboration with the Sarawak state government where it would make Kuching International Airport an umrah hub solely to cater to the Borneo region, including southern Philippines’ umrah pilgrims.

“With the contract given to us (by the Sarawak government), we plan to bring in Kuwait Airways to operate from Kuching International Airport as well,” he said.

-- BERNAMA