Malaysia Airlines announced it will resume direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city, starting December 2, 2026. The route was last operated by the airline between 1996 and 1998, marking a 28-year hiatus before this relaunch [1, 2, 3, 4].
The airline will offer four weekly flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays using Boeing 737-8 aircraft. Malaysia Airlines will be the only carrier providing nonstop service on this route upon its resumption [2, 3, 4]. Economy round-trip fares start at 2139 MYR, with business class tickets priced at 4999 MYR [3, 4]. The company said the return of the Busan route aims to enhance tourism, trade, and connectivity between Malaysia and South Korea [3, 4].
Firefly, part of Malaysia Aviation Group, is launching direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kunming, China, marking its first service into the Chinese market. Firefly will operate the new route using Boeing 737-800 aircraft [1, 2, 3, 4].
Malaysia Airlines has also increased its service on existing routes. Since September 2, flights from Kuala Lumpur to Fukuoka, Japan, have resumed, with plans to expand from five weekly flights to daily service starting December 1, 2026 [2, 3, 4]. Flights to Brisbane, Australia, will increase from six weekly to daily starting October 25, 2026, operated by A330neo aircraft [2, 3, 4]. Additionally, the airline will add two weekly flights to Surabaya, Indonesia starting November 1, raising weekly flights from 14 to 16 [2, 3, 4].
Captain Nasaruddin A Bakar, CEO of Malaysia Airlines, stated: "We are continuing to grow with purpose, strengthening our network where there is demand, reconnecting established markets and expanding into new ones, while investing in the capabilities that support our airlines and customers" [2]. He noted in Mandarin, "These new routes reflect our focus on markets with sustainable demand and growth opportunities that promote tourism, trade, and people-to-people exchanges" [3].
Malaysia Aviation Group is building a new in-flight catering facility near Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The facility is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2028 and operations will begin in the second quarter of 2029. It will have a daily meal production capacity of about 50,000 meals, nearly doubling current output, and will serve Malaysia Airlines as well as third-party carriers [2, 3, 4].
The airline is also exploring further South Asian destinations but is awaiting regulatory approvals before making announcements [3, 4].
