KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 — Malaysia Airlines will mark its return to Busan from Dec 2, 2026, reconnecting Kuala Lumpur with South Korea’s second-largest city after last serving the route between 1996 and 1998.

MAG president and group chief executive officer Captain Nasaruddin A Bakar said, upon resumption, the service with four weekly flights operated by the airline’s Boeing 737-8 aircraft, would complement the national carrier’ existing connectivity to Seoul.

Meanwhile, sister airline Firefly will soon mark its entry into China with the launch of direct services to Kunming (KMG), operated using the airline’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

“We are continuing to grow with purpose, strengthening our network where there is demand, reconnecting established markets and expanding into new ones, while investing in the capabilities that support our airlines and customers,” he said in a press conference here, today.

Beyond the network expansions, he also said that Malaysia Airlines is enhancing its connectivity with additional capacity to Fukuoka in Japan, Brisbane (Australia) and Surabaya (Indonesia) in response to growing demand.

“Services to Fukuoka will increase from five weekly flights to daily operations from December 1, 2026, following the route’s resumption on September 2,” he said.

Malaysia Airlines remains the only carrier offering non-stop flights from Kuala Lumpur to Fukuoka.

Meanwhile, he said Brisbane flights will also increase from six weekly services to daily from October 25, with the airline deploying its new-generation A330neo aircraft on the route.

“From November 1, the airline will add two weekly flights to Surabaya, increasing services from 14 to 16 per week and providing greater access to East Java’s commercial, cultural and natural attractions,” he said. 

On its new in-flight catering facility under MAG Culinary Solutions (MAGCS), Captain Nasaruddin said the facility near Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is targeted for completion in the fourth quarter (4Q) of 2028, with operations expected to commence in 2Q 2029.

He said groundworks for the facility commenced in July 2026 and, once operational, it is expected to produce about 50,000 meals daily, almost double MAGCS’ current handling capacity.

“The facility is expected to support MAG’s airlines as well as third-party carriers, while creating employment opportunities and new revenue streams for the group.

MAGCS was established in September 2025 following the insourcing of Malaysia Airlines’ catering operations in 2023.

He also said fleet modernisation is another key part of the equation as the group has received 26 modern aircraft that supports key markets across its network.

Captain Nasaruddin added that these initiatives, including routes expansion, in-flight catering facility and fleet modernisation, would give the group greater capability, better reliability and the capacity to serve the markets more effectively, in line with the Long-Term Business Plan 3.0 as it progresses towards the Destination 2030 ambitions. — Bernama