This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on October 3, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines Bhd has teamed up with British Airways to code-share the latter’s flights from London Heathrow to Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle beginning Oct 2 for travel from Oct 9.

Subject to regulatory approval, Malaysia’s flag carrier will also be code-sharing with British Airways on European points namely Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, Vienna, Brussels, Geneva, Hamburg, Lyon, Toulouse, Paris and Zurich.

In a statement yesterday, Malaysia Airlines said other connections on British Airways and Malaysia Airlines network will be enabled progressively in 2019 and 2020. Malaysia Airlines group chief executive officer Captain Izham Ismail said the code-share will provide it an opportunity to expand its UK and European network without having to mount its own flights to the various cities there.

“This is part of our strategy to develop commercial cooperation with oneworld alliance members, besides enhancing air connectivity with key priority markets overseas for increased tourist arrivals into Malaysia,” he added.

All code-share services will be marketed as Malaysia Airlines flights. Malaysia Airlines currently operates twice daily direct flights from London to Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, British Airways passengers will be able to book Malaysia Airlines flights to 14 destinations the airline serves in Malaysia such as Langkawi, Penang and Bintulu, and nine cities in Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, New Zealand and Vietnam.

Earlier this year, Malaysia Airlines signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan Airlines Co Ltd (JAL) and Singapore Airlines Ltd (SIA) to pursue a joint business agreement. The decision is still pending regulatory approval.

Malaysia Airlines, JAL and British Airways are in the oneworld alliance, while SIA is a member of Star Alliance.