Malaysia Airlines expands European routes to Paris

Malaysia Airlines has expanded its European routes for the first time in nearly a decade. On March 22, the airline resumed flights between Kuala Lumpur and Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. This marks its second European route, joining the existing service to London Heathrow. Before this new route, Malaysia Airlines only had one connection to Europe since 2017. The airline stopped flying to Paris in January 2016. With the return to Paris, Malaysia Airlines can now offer nonstop flights in a market that has seen a demand of around 110,000 passengers last year. The flights to Paris will be operated daily using a 286-seat Airbus A350-900. The aircraft features four luxury suites, 35 business class seats, and a mix of economy seating. The first flight was carried out by a nearly eight-year-old aircraft. The airline aims to increase its presence in Europe after a significant reduction in capacity over the years. In 2005, it served ten European destinations, but by 2025, it will have only two routes with a total of 579,000 seats available. This is a substantial increase from its lowest point in 2017 but still represents only 4.5% of its international operations. Malaysia Airlines has faced challenges in recent years, including financial difficulties and competition from other airlines. Many travelers from Kuala Lumpur to Europe choose connecting flights via other airlines, making it a competitive market. Despite this, the addition of the Paris route is a hopeful sign for the airline's recovery in the European market.