Malaysia Airlines is dropping off its daily services to Brisbane in August, which ditches the direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and the QLD capital.
According to reports from SMH, the airline confirmed on Thursday its last service to Brisbane would be on Saturday, August 8.
“Malaysia Airlines is undertaking a network rationalisation exercise as part of the national carrier’s 12-point MAS Recovery Plan announced last year,” the airline revealed in a statement.
“Customers holding tickets to and from the affected routes will be re-accommodated on alternative carriers or be eligible for a refund.”
Malaysia Airlines has had a rocky past year, with the disappearance of MH370 and the shooting down of MH17, and according to SMH, its chief exec Christoph Mueller earlier this month declared the airline was “technically bankrupt”.
As per SMH reports, Brisbane Airport Corporation spokeswoman Leonie Vandeven said there had been no indications that the direct route would be cut off.
“We were disappointed, and must confess surprised, to read the news that our partnership with Malaysia Airlines spanning some 25 years has ended so suddenly,” she told SMH.
“This is a loss for Queensland and for Malaysian travellers to Queensland. “
According to SMH, a spokeswoman for Qantas, Malaysia Airlines’ Oneworld partner airline, said the home-grown carrier was not considering commencing services to KL, but was nonetheless “always looking at opportunities” for its network.
The decision comes just months after Garuda Indonesia ended its Brisbane-Bali service, leaving the QLD capital looking for new flights to service its passengers to key destinations.
