Malaysia Airlines the national carrier of Malaysia will increase its flight frequency between Colombo and Kuala Lumpur to five. The fifth frequency from Colombo will depart BIA at 1.45 am on Wednesdays from October 28.

The Malaysia Airlines now offers low fares, which will continue till 31 March 2010.

The area manager of the Airline for Sri Lanka and Maldives Manamohan Singh said that Kuala Lumpur is a favourite destination for tourists and business travellers due to the close business and family ties between the two countries. Our average load factor is 90% as we are a preferred airline, offering convenient schedules, seamless connectivity and services of a full service carrier, he said.

Singh said that the flight schedules of Malaysia Airlines have been designed for customer convenience. Arriving early in the morning gives them a head-start in their trip, be it business or leisure. In addition, they can easily connect to ASEAN countries, China and Australia via our vast network, he said.

The high commissioner of Malaysia to Sri Lanka Rosli Ismail said that there is an increase in visa applications to Malaysia and it is a sign of improved economic activities and shows that the purchasing power of Sri Lankans have improved. The number of Sri Lankan tourists to Malaysia has grown 35% over the last two years. In 2008 42,774 Sri Lankans visited Malaysia compared to 31,733 in 2007. The number of Malaysians visiting to Sri Lanka too has increased from 12,737 in 2007 to over 15,000 in 2008, he said. Malaysia Airlines started its operations to Colombo in 1994 as an off line station and Colombo became an on line station in 2002 after it commenced two times a week service between two countries.

The frequency increased to three in 2003 and to four in 2007. Malaysia Airlines is one of the six five star airlines in the world accredited by Skytrax.

-GW