Malaysia Airlines makes play for Indian business with new partnerships

Malaysia Airlines is building on strong demand in India by deepening its engagement with the travel trade and formalising strategic collaborations with PayU, Times Black and Jio Network to further broaden its reach among Indian consumers. Malaysia Airlines currently operates 80 weekly flights across 10 cities in India, connecting travellers through its main hub in Kuala Lumpur to destinations across Malaysia and the wider Asia-Pacific region. In the first half of 2026, the airline carried close to a million passengers between India and Malaysia, representing a 10% increase year-on-year, with demand spanning both leisure and premium travel segments. The breadth of the network, together with continued passenger growth, underscores the strength of travel ties between India, Malaysia and the wider region. Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), said, “India is an important market for us, not only for point-to-point demand, but also for the opportunities it presents through our Kuala Lumpur hub. Our travel trade partners are central to how we reach and serve this market, and we value the role they play in growing travel between India and Malaysia and beyond. At the same time, we are broadening our engagement with Indian consumers through new collaborations that bring together complementary strengths across payments, lifestyle and digital platforms. Together, these efforts support our ambition to make Malaysia Airlines a preferred partner for travellers from India and enhance the connectivity that links India with Malaysia and the wider region.” The airline also formalised three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Pay U, a leading digital payments and financial services provider; Times Black, a premium lifestyle and experiences platform; and Jio Network, a leading digital and media network in India. The collaborations will explore opportunities across digital payments, premium lifestyle engagement and digital media outreach, supporting the airline’s ambition to deliver more relevant, seamless and connected experiences throughout the customer journey. These initiatives reflect Malaysia Airlines’ continued commitment to India, leveraging its Kuala Lumpur hub, extensive network and growing consumer reach to facilitate more travel between India, Malaysia and beyond. As the national carrier, the airline will continue to support Visit Malaysia 2026 by encouraging more Indian travellers to discover Malaysia and its diverse destinations, while showcasing the warmth of Malaysian Hospitality throughout the journey. India’s Akasa Air commences operations from Jaipur Akasa Air commenced operations from Jaipur, connecting it with Mumbai and Bengaluru with daily direct flights. The maiden flight on 11 October 2026 departed Jaipur International Airport at 1130hrs, arriving at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru at 1400 hrs. The route marks Akasa Air’s entry in the state of Rajasthan, offering enhanced travel options to key metropolitan hubs, while enabling greater inbound connectivity to Rajasthan for business and leisure travel. The airline will also commence operations from Udaipur starting 15th October 2026, progressively building its presence in Rajasthan, enhancing access to the state’s key tourism and commercial centres. Commenting on the occasion, Anand Srinivasan, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air, said, “Since inception, we have been focused on building a robust network that serves the breadth of India’s travel demand. Rajasthan is a natural extension of that strategy. Jaipur has a mature and diversified travel market, and connecting it with Mumbai and Bengaluru allows us to serve strong traffic flows across multiple segments. As we build greater depth in the state, our focus will remain on building meaningful connectivity, offering customers greater choice, and delivering the warm, dependable and seamless Akasa Experience.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]