Malaysia Airlines Travel Fair is Back! The national carrier will be offering discounts up to 49% on selected routes

The Malaysia Airlines Travel Fair (MATF), an annual event with best prices and value deals is back again this year with more all-inclusive offers on international economyroutes of the national carrier’s network.

The MATF this year will reach out to customers in Malaysia from tomorrow, 20 January 2014 till 28 January 2014 for the travel period of 23 January 2014 – 30 June 2014.

Regional Senior Vice President Malaysia, Dato’ Muzammil Mohamad said, "The Malaysia Airlines Travel Fair is an annual event that rewards travelers with all-inclusive deals for their air travel and vacation. It also demonstrates the national carrier's commitment towards seeking new avenues to deliver the MAS brand experience to customers" he added further.

The flagship aircraft A380 has proved to be one of the most sought after flying experience. Customers can travel on economy class to London, Paris and Hong Kong via the A380 with fares starting from only RM3199, RM2888 and RM899 respectively.

On the regional destinations, for fares starting from only RM349, customers can now travel on economy class from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore and Yangon. Meanwhile the economy class travel from Kuala Lumpur to Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Bali starts from only RM449.

Krabi is Malaysia Airline's latest addition to its extensive network. Customers can fly into the gem of the Andaman Sea for fares starting from only RM366 on economy class and RM867 on business class. Krabi is abundant with picturesque landscapes, stunning limestone cliffs, beautiful beaches, refreshing waterfalls, breathtaking inland and sea caves and riveting underwater. Krabi is home to several National Parks with over 130 surrounding islands such as Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta.

Customers can travel to Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane for an all inclusive fare starting from only RM2149 on economy class and to Darwin from only RM1799.

Travel to Incheon on economy class for fares starting from only RM1499 and to Taipei starts from RM999.

Fares to the Indian capital New Delhi starts from only RM1399 and to Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Male starts from RM1199.

Istanbul has been a favourite for many travellers. Customers can now fly to the Turkish capital for an economy class fare starting from as low as RM2988.

  

Malaysia Airlines encourages travellers, especially those travelling during Chinese New Year holidays season to perform self-check in to avoid long queues at the airport. Passengers may choose to check in via web (malaysiaairlines.com), mobile (flymas.mobi) or fast-check kiosks (at KLIA). Malaysia Airlines web check-in is open 48 hours and up to 90 minutes before departure. The web check-in is however not applicable for travel on sectors Kuala Lumpur to Bandar Seri Begawan, Kunming, Xiamen, Kathmandu, Los Angeles, Tokyo–Los Angeles, as well as sectors and code share fights operated by partner carriers.

Book your travels via www.malaysiaairlines.com, Malaysia Airlines call centre at 1-300-88-3000, Malaysia Airlines ticket offices and appointed agents throughout Malaysia.

MASWINGS CHAIRMAN/MALAYSIA AIRLINES GROUP CEO STATEMENT - MH3002 INCIDENT AT KUDAT, SABAH

We deeply regret the incident in Kudat of flight MH 3002 on Thursday, October 10, 2013. The aircraft, with Registration Number DHC6 9M-MDM, departed from Kota Kinabalu to Kudat with 14 passengers and two technical crew onboard landed in the vicinity of Kudat Airport at 2.50pm.

Out of the 16 onboard, 15 were Malaysians and one Filipino national.

Regrettably there have been two fatalities (of which one is MASwings Co-Pilot) and two injuries.

The Captain piloting the flight was Captain Wan Mohd Abd Amir Wan Yahya, 56. He has over 4700 total flying hours.

Captain Wan Mohd joined MASwings in August 2011

We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the deceased and those involved in the accident, and we are doing everything we can to assist them in this extremely difficult time. We are assisting the passengers and families the best way we can.

A 24-hour Call Centre service has been activated. Families of passengers who were on-board may call 603-7884 1234 for further enquiries.

We have also set up our Go Team in Kudat to look after their needs and keep them as quickly informed as possible.

The investigation will be carried out by the authorities. Malaysia Airlines together with MASwings are fully co-operating and assisting the investigation in every possible way.

As per aircraft maintenance record, the Twin-Otter was fit to fly and was in good condition before the accident.

Malaysia Airlines and MASwings will continue to monitor the situation at the crash site and update on the situation and will provide information relating to the flight itself and updates on steps being taken.

Once again, we at Malaysia Airlines and MASwings express our deepest regret and extend our condolences to all affected parties.

I would like to reiterate once again that our utmost priority is to ensure complete well being of our passengers, crew and other affected parties.

MH3002 Incident at Kudat, Sabah

Subang, 10 October 2013: Malaysia Airlines confirms that the total number of passengers and crew on-board MASwings' Twin Otter, DHC6 9M-MDM MH3002 were 16 persons. The crash happened in the vicinity of Kudat Airport at 2.50pm on 10^th October 2013.

The airline confirms that the total number of injuries is six.

All on-board has been evacuated to safety and injured ones are receiving treatment accordingly.

Focus of the airline is on the well-being of the passengers, crew and other affected parties.

Malaysia Airlines’ Group Chief Executive Officer/MASwings Chairman, Ahmad Jauhari Yahya is on his way to Kudat to monitor the situation.

Malaysia Airlines will also continue to monitor the situation at the crash site and update on the situation.   

Families of passengers who were on-board may call +603- 78841234 for further enquiries.

The media hotline is +603- 87871276.

Plantar Fasciitis

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis (say "PLAN-ter fash-ee-EYE-tus") is the most common cause of heel pain. The plantar fascia  is the flat band of tissue (ligament) that connects your heel bone to your toes. It supports the arch of your foot. If you strain your plantar fascia, it gets weak, swollen, and irritated (inflamed). Then your heel or the bottom of your foot hurts when you stand or walk.

Plantar fasciitis is common in middle-aged people. It also occurs in younger people who are on their feet a lot, like athletes or soldiers. It can happen in one foot or both feet.

What causes plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is caused by straining the ligament that supports your arch. Repeated strain can cause tiny tears in the ligament. These can lead to pain and swelling. This is more likely to happen if:

• Your feet roll inward too much when you walk (excessive pronation ).
• You have high arches or flat feet.
• You walk, stand, or run for long periods of time, especially on hard surfaces.
• You are overweight.
• You wear shoes that don't fit well or are worn out.
• You have tight Achilles tendons or calf muscles.

What are the symptoms?

Most people with plantar fasciitis have pain when they take their first steps after they get out of bed or sit for a long time. You may have less stiffness and pain after you take a few steps. But your foot may hurt more as the day goes on. It may hurt the most when you climb stairs or after you stand for a long time.

If you have foot pain at night, you may have a different problem, such as arthritis, or a nerve problem such as tarsal tunnel syndrome.

How is plantar fasciitis diagnosed?

Your doctor will check your feet and watch you stand and walk. He or she will also ask questions about:

• Your past health, including what illnesses or injuries you have had.
• Your symptoms, such as where the pain is and what time of day your foot hurts most.
• How active you are and what types of physical activity you do.

Your doctor may take an X-ray of your foot if he or she suspects a problem with the bones of your foot, such as a stress fracture.

How is it treated?

No single treatment works best for everyone with plantar fasciitis. But there are many things you can try to help your foot get better:

• Give your feet a rest. Cut back on activities that make your foot hurt. Try not to walk or run on hard surfaces.
• To reduce pain and swelling, try putting ice on your heel. Or take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), naproxen (such asAleve), or aspirin.
• Do toe stretches , calf stretches  and towel stretches  several times a day, especially when you first get up in the morning.
• Get a new pair of shoes. Pick shoes with good arch support and a cushioned sole. Or try heel cups or shoe inserts (orthotics ). Use them in both shoes, even if only one foot hurts.

Malaysia Airlines Increases Capacity Across Network

Malaysia Airlines is on an expansion mode with capacity and frequency increases regionally and new destinations internationally.

“In the recent weeks, we launched flights to Dubai and Kochi and increased capacity and frequencies to Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei) and Medan (Indonesia). Soon, we will be flying more often to Singapore, Sydney and Melbourne, as well as putting Darwin back in our network map”, says Group CEO, Ahmad Jauhari Yahya.

“People are travelling more, and Malaysia Airlines is strengthening our footprint across Asia and beyond in response to these market needs”, added Ahmad Jauhari Yahya. 

Malaysia Airlines has seen a steady increase in passenger traffic since the start of 2013 matching the added capacity. Seat loads have also improved, registering 83.3% in July 2013, equivalent to a 9.1% increase from the previous year.

Malaysia Airlines recently celebrated the reinstatement of its Kuala Lumpur – Dubai service in August 2013. Kochi, in south India, became its new destination in September. Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory is the Malaysian national carrier’s new destination in November 2013.

Capacity and Frequency increases:

·         Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei – Saw an 11% increase in capacity into and out of Bandar Seri Begawan with the bigger B737-800 series (160-seats) aircraft effective 15 August 2013 which replaces the previous B737-400 series.

·         Medan, Indonesia – Added a third daily frequency from Kuala Lumpur into the Medan effective 15 September 2013, making it 6,720 seats weekly in and out of Medan.

·         Singapore - New daily flights MH623 ex-Kuala Lumpur for Singapore and MH624 ex-Singapore for Kuala Lumpur offer more seamless travel and good connections to popular destinations such as Delhi and Beijing.

·         Sydney, Australia - Double daily operations from Sydney will be increased with 4 additional weekly flights bringing it to 18 flights per week from 21 November 2013. This will increase to 21 weekly flights from 5^th February 2014.

·         Melbourne, Australia - Malaysia Airlines is also increasing its frequency from Kuala Lumpur into Melbourne to triple daily from 21 November 2013, from its current double daily service. The new frequency, MH147 will depart Kuala Lumpur at 7.50 pm daily and will arrive in Melbourne at 6.45 am the following day. MH146 from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur will depart at 8.55 am and will arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 2.15 pm the same day.

Customers can book their travel on Malaysia Airlines through all distribution channels mainly www.malaysiaairlines.com, Malaysia Airlines 24 hours toll free number 1 300 88 3000, MHmobile, Malaysia Airlines ticket offices and appointed agents throughout Malaysia.

Firefly & MASwings Launch Cabin Crew Integration Programme

Malaysia Airlines, via its subsidiaries Firefly and MASwings, today joined the whole Nation in celebrating the Merdeka spirit with the launch of its Cabin Crew Integration Programme aimed at strengthening the role of the Group in advocating national integration.

This colourful programme will feature 10 Firefly cabin crew from Peninsular Malaysia fly alongside MASwings crew on flights around Sabah and Sarawak, and vice versa.

Group CEO, Ahmad Jauhari Yahya expressed his delight at initiating the Programme that will be made an annual event beginning this year.

“This Integration Programme will be carried out for two weeks starting from 30 August to 16 September 2013, and we intend to do this every year as part of celebrating National Day and Malaysia Day.”

“The Cabin Crew Integration Programme also shows our strength as Malaysia Airlines Group in which there is strong cooperation and solid support for each other.”

Speaking at the launch of the Integration Programme at Skypark today, MASwings Chief Executive Officer Datuk Captain Mohd Nawawi Hj Awang said, “We are glad to be able to bring about a programme especially during the Merdeka and Malaysia Day celebrations that fits well with the National agenda of further enhancing national integration. The exchange of our cabin crew is an opportunity to expose our staff to different cultures and diversity within the states of Malaysia.”

Echoing the sentiment is Firefly’s CEO, Ignatius Ong, who added, “This is not only a great branding exercise for both airlines but it also creates synergy amongst the Malaysia Airlines Group of airlines and strengthens a harmonious workforce. Through the programme, MASwings and Firefly will be able to support one another operationally in the future.”

Prior to the exchange, the 20 cabin crew involved in the integration programme undertook a training to understand the differences in operations and services of respective carriers. MASwings’ aircrafts are equipped with LED drop down screens which are used to demonstrate the in-flight safety video and to showcase destination offerings from Sabah and Sarawak. MASwings offer both Business and Economy class for its travelling public which is different from the Firefly mono class module.

Firefly currently flies to domestic and regional destinations in the ASEAN network serving 24 routes within Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. Its ATR72-500 and 600-series fleet offer spacious cabins with plush leather seats and soft ambient lighting for a more comfortable journey.

At the Group-level, Malaysia Airlines is also promoting the spirit of Merdeka with specially designed hanging mobiles and stickers bearing the message “Proudly flying our flag sky high around the world, 365 days a year”. These hanging mobiles and stickers, featuring the Jalur Gemilang on the A380 will be put up in Malaysia Airlines’ fleet and airports nationwide.

Malaysia Airlines Offers More Than 1 million Discounted Seats at the WITM-MATTA Fair

Malaysia Airlines will be offering more than 1 million seats at up to 55% discount, giving travelers value deals on its domestic and international network at the upcoming MATTA Travel Fair.

The national carrier also announced today that it will be the official airline for MATTA Travel Fair and World Islamic Tourism Mart (WITM) happening on 6 until 8 September 2013 at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).

Speaking at a Press Conference in Malaysia Airlines Academy, Kelana Jaya, Regional Senior Vice President Malaysia, Muzammil Mohamad said, “Our offers are exceptionally attractive for consumers to plan their holidays or business trips and make their purchases now, as such value deals are not offered always. Advanced planning and purchase is certain to benefit our customers who are already considering their next vacations during the forthcoming year end school holiday breaks”.

“This year we will be doing thing differently compared to our previous sales – we are extending the validity of Malaysia Airlines’ airfares from one (01) month to three (03 months) and the fares will be available for travel up to mid 2014.  Fares from all Peninsular Malaysia to international points have also been common-rated for this Fair – basically we are absorbing the cost of the domestic flight for passengers who are travelling from Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Alor Setar, Langkawi, Penang and Johor  to international destinations.”

“We will be offering special fares to our new destinations; Kochi, Darwin, Dubai as well as popular routes such as Perth, Bali, Manila, Kathmandu, Guangzhou, Kunming and Hong Kong. In addition to the online destinations that Malaysia Airlines operates, by paying a minimal additional amount customers can also fly to even more destinations which are served by our oneworld partners.

Passengers can enjoy great deals on Economy Class to domestic destinations from as low as RM150 all-in return, ASEAN destinations from as low as RM160, China from RM699, North Asia from RM999; and to Malaysia Airlines’ oneworld destinations in Australia from RM2,199 and oneworld destinations in Europe from RM2,999.

Business Class travels are also available from as low as RM599 all-in to domestic or ASEAN routes, from RM1999 to Chennai, Dhaka or Male and from RM2999 to Perth and Darwin.

In addition, Malaysia Airlines’ subsidiary, Firefly will be offering some of the best bargain packages (flight and accommodation) which include a Free & Easy package to Firefly’s destinations, three days two nights Singapore starting at only RM939, a Free & Easy trip to Langkawi for three days two nights starting at only RM449, a three days two nights tour package to Medan that starts from only RM859, and a Free & Easy package to Koh Samui, also three days two nights starting from only RM759. Exciting shopping vouchers also await customers purchasing any of the packages.

Firefly’s current campaign, Everyday Low Fares (ELF) which is currently running, will offer a total of 500,000 seats with fares from RM49 and travelers are encouraged to book well in advance to get even more option of flight dates for this great value offer.

Malaysia Airlines travel and tour arm, MASholidays will be offering family fun packages to encourage and nurture valuable family time with selected child-friendly hotels and tours. At this MATTA fair, parents are welcomed to grab free ground package for one child with every two paying adults. A child below twelve years old will receive free extra bed for the duration, free breakfast, free airport transfers and free half-day tour, with two (02) full-paying accompanying adults.

Besides the free & easy packages, there are all-inclusive group departures to Turkey, Beijing, Kathmandu, India Golden Triangle, Osaka, Medan, Hanoi and Dubai. 

Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines’ loyalty programme, Enrich will be offering a bonus of 2,000 Enrich miles for new sign-ups during the three-day sale. Enrich members can also redeem RM50 Enrich voucher for every 3,000 Enrich miles earned and receive 20% discount off Temptations, Malaysia Airlines’ in-flight shopping. All Enrich members are also now able to earn and redeem Enrich miles when they purchase Firefly tickets.

Visit Malaysia Airlines Corporate Booth on the Mezzanine Floor, Hall 1 of PWTC where there will be fun and games, exhibitions, prizes plus a meet and greet session with Malaysia’s very own singer-songwriter, Yuna on 8 September, Sunday.

There will also be great offers from Malaysia Airlines’ subsidiaries including MASwings and attractive offers from MASkargo.

These domestic and international travel airfares are also available to customers at all distribution channels mainly www.malaysiaairlines.com, Malaysia Airlines call-centre at 1 300 88 3000, Malaysia Airlines ticket offices and appointed agents.