On April 18th 2002, Malaysia Airlines commenced twice daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo, an increase of four flights per week, and a significant upgrade in its strategic presence in the lucrative Japanese market. Malaysia Airlines currently operates 20 weekly flights between Malaysia and Japan, with a capacity of 5920 seats in each direction. This number has now increased to 23, with a capacity of 6538 seats.
Malaysia Airlines will use its 278-seater Boeing 777 aircraft for the twice-daily service, providing a total capacity of 3892 seats weekly in each direction of this lucrative route between the capital cities of Malaysia and Japan.
The daily flights MH70 departing Kuala Lumpur at 1100 hours and MH88 departing Kuala Lumpur at 2330 hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays will operate non-stop to Tokyo and return, whilst flight MH80 departing Kuala Lumpur at 2055 hours on Thursdays and Sundays will operate via Kota Kinabalu in both directions.
To enhance its customer service, Malaysia Airlines will introduce several initiatives with the introduction of these additional flights. All passengers traveling to Tokyo will receive complimentary phone cards providing a 10-minute talk-time from Japan to any part of the world. This complimentary distribution from Brastel, a Japanese private telecommunications company specializing in international call-switching service, will be for a period of one year.
Another facility offered is a 'Home Delivery Service' inflight shopping of Malaysian and international products on all Malaysian-Japan flights effective 25 March 2002. By 1st August 2002, Japanese cuisine will also be available on all these flights.
"As part of our ongoing turnaround campaign, this is the latest addition to the international flights operated by Malaysia Airlines from KLIA since 31 May 2001, at a time when the aviation industry worldwide faces increasing competition in attracting passenger numbers and boosting services. Our strategy is to build an even more significant presence in this region and beyond, " said Dato' Md Nor Yusof, Managing Director of Malaysia Airlines.
Malaysia Airlines' commenced operations to Japan with its inaugural service from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo on 1st April 1974. It network from Kuala Lumpur to Japan expanded with services to Fukuoka effective 18 June 1989, to Nagoya effective 31 October 1990 and to
Osaka effective 4 September 1994.
Malaysia Airlines introduced a "Home Delivery Service' inflight-shopping on all its flights between Malaysia and Japan effective 25 March 2002.
Through this service passengers residing in any part of Japan, irrespective of nationality, can order quality international products on prescribed forms available inflight. The products are specially selected by Malaysia Airlines ranging from food preparations like Asian cuisine and dim-sum varieties to tropical fruits, Malaysian sweets, Malaysian ceramic items, liquors, vintage wines and pewter gifts.
Payment for the orders, together with a 5% consumption tax and nominal delivery charge, will be collected from passengers when the products are delivered at their address in any part of Japan at the date and time of their preference.
The Home Delivery Service offers passengers the luxury of time to select the products of their choice whilst on board
frees them from the burden of having to disembark their flights with excessive hand baggage of souvenirs and inflight purchases
eliminates customs declarations for such purchases and allows them the flexibility to make advanced payment arrangements to take delivery of the products in Japan.
Effective 1 May 2002, Malaysia Airlines will introduce Japanese inflight meals and beverages on its Tokyo/Kuala Lumpur direct flights MH71 and MH89 to cater to the palates of the increasing number of Japanese passengers on this sector.
Japanese cuisine will constitute 50% of the economy class meals and 40% of the Business and First class meals uplifted. Depending on the passengers' response to this inflight service, Malaysia Airlines will adjust the percentage of such meal uplift on its Tokyo/Kuala Lumpur direct flights in future.
The similar concept will be introduced on Malaysia Airlines' Kuala Lumpur/Tokyo direct flights MH70 and MH88 as well as its direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and the Japanese cities of Fukuoka, Nagoya and Osaka effective 1 August 2002.
Whilst the existing equipment and cutlery will be used for this special meal service, Malaysia Airlines is working towards introducing authentic Japanese equipment together with the Japanese meals in the near future.
Malaysia Airlines acknowledges the significance and contribution of its Malaysia-Japan operations to its overall performance and is continuously appraising the product and service of all its flights on this route. Where necessary, it will introduce further upgrades to its product and service on this route to match customer expectations. |
