Malaysia Airlines restores Beirut service, cuts Cairo

MALAYSIA Airlines will resume thrice-weekly Kuala Lumpur-Beirut service from October 15, increase frequencies to Paris and Hanoi, but cut Cairo and New York/Newark routes.

"The flights, using 229-seater A330-200 aircraft, will depart Kuala Lumpur for Beirut via Dubai Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays with returning flights departing on the same day and arriving Kuala Lumpur the next day," said Malaysia Airlines managing director and CEO, Idris Jala.

After considering the findings of a cost/benefit study, he said, the airline has decided to withdraw service between Kuala Lumpur and Cairo from November 1 and close its Kuala Lumpur-Stockholm-Newark route from January 15, 2007.

However, the company will increase frequencies to Paris from five weekly to daily flights starting October 29, as well as add two flights from Kuala Lumpur to Hanoi, making a total of nine weekly B737-400 flights on this route. Frequency on the Kuala Lumpur-Taipei-Los Angeles service will be increased from five to six flights a week using B747-400 aircraft.

Mr Jala also said the Kuala Lumpur-Stockholm-New York route would be best operated under a code share arrangement via Amsterdam.