KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 ― Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) confirmed today that it has lifted its restrictions on check-in baggage for long haul flights to Amsterdam, London and Paris starting from today.

The national carrier had yesterday attributed strong head winds and fuel jet consumption for the baggage limits imposed on passengers for flights out last night, saying it was forced to take a longer route to Europe.

“Malaysia Airlines confirmed today that normal check-in baggage allowances are available on all flights across the network including services to Amsterdam, London and Paris,” it said in a statement.

“Based on its current risk assessment, done on a daily basis, the airline is now able to take a shorter route on European flights.

“Malaysia Airlines maintains that safety is of utmost priority in its operations and will not hesitate to adjust its flight path based on its daily risk assessment,” it added.

MAB explained that the head winds in the last four days had reached 200 knots, which would make its Boeing B777-200 planes use up to 15 per cent more fuel.

It also assured its affected customers in Europe that all baggage is being shipped to them.

Malaysia Airlines Bhd has confirmed that check-in baggage allowances are back to normal on all European flights. ― File pic

In its announcement on limitation of check-in baggage for Europe routes yesterday, MAB only allowed cabin baggage up to 7kg, with Economy Class passengers allowed to bring one piece up to that weight, while Business and First Class passengers were allowed to bring two pieces totalling 14kg.

The move had left aviation analysts baffled, with Shukor Yusof, an analyst with Malaysia-based Endau Analytics telling news agency AFP that it was unheard of in his 20 years in the industry.

Greg Waldron, Asia managing editor at Flightglobal also explained that the reasoning was strange and there are other ways to reduce payloads.