Strengthening ties in the sky: Loke with (from right) Manoharan, Wallace and O’Connor welcoming visitors arriving on the newly reinstated British Airways route at KLIA. — CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
SEPANG: British Airways has resumed flights to Kuala Lumpur for the first time in five years, marking a significant milestone in reconnecting Malaysia with the United Kingdom.
This resumption ends a nearly five-year suspension of the route by the UK flag carrier, which had halted services due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Flight BA33, operated by a Boeing 787-9, departed from London at 9.10pm on Tuesday and arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 5.20pm yesterday.
“This is a great boost to Malaysia’s tourism industry. Naturally, we hope to welcome more tourists from Europe, particularly from the United Kingdom, to Malaysia,” said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
He noted that Malaysia Airlines is already operating two daily flights to London, and with British Airways’ return, he expressed optimism about future growth.
“With more flights, we hope to further expand our tourism industry and attract more visitors, especially in the coming years.
“Malaysia will continue to enhance its global connectivity, particularly with Europe. We also hope to strengthen our links with the United States,” he added.
Loke highlighted that British Airways’ return comes at a strategic time as Malaysia prepares for Visit Malaysia 2026.
“The government has set a target of attracting 35.6 million foreign tourists, and air connectivity is crucial in achieving this goal,” he said at the welcoming ceremony at KLIA yesterday.
“I am eager to see MAHB (Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd) be more competitive in the future, especially with a new board. I hope they will make the necessary move to build a world-class airport operator for our beloved nation.
“As we move forward, I am optimistic that this collaboration will usher in a new era of aviation growth, economic development, and mutual prosperity,” he said.
Yesterday’s special reception was also attended by acting British High Commissioner to Malaysia David Wallace, Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, British Airways’ Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific regional general manager Helen O’Connor and MAHB managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani.
O’Connor expressed her enthusiasm for the airline’s return to the Malaysian capital after five years.
“This isn’t just about reintroducing a route to our network; it’s about renewing our commitment to the Malaysian and UK markets.
“Our return to Kuala Lumpur underscores the importance of reconnecting people, cultures and businesses between the two continents,” she said.
As part of the enhanced partnership, British Airways has also expanded its codeshare agreement with Malaysia Airlines, enabling seamless travel to over 17 cities via Kuala Lumpur.
This list includes key destinations in Malaysia, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
All flights can be booked under a single itinerary with British Airways.
Additionally, Malaysia Airlines will extend its codeshare routes with British Airways, adding four new London-US connections: Boston, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Portland. This enhancement will allow Malaysia Airlines customers to book journeys between Malaysia and the United States under a single ticket.
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