Middle East Airlines in KLIA

Middle East region is an important region for KLIA/Kuala Lumpur. Most major Middle East carriers are operating to Kuala Lumpur including Middle East Big Three (Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways). There are 12 carriers are operating to KLIA are:

1. Egypt Air
2. Emirates
3. Etihad
4. Iran Air
5. Iraqi Airways
6. Kuwait Airways
7. Mahan Air
8. Oman Air
9. Qatar Airways
10. Royal Jordanian Airlines
11. Saudia
12. Yemenia

Table 1: Middle East airlines are operating to major airports in South East Asia

Airlines/ Airport	KUL	SIN	BKK	CGK	MNL
Egypt Air	/		/	/
Emirates	/	/	/	/	/
Etihad Airways	/	/	/	/	/
Gulf Air			/		/
Iran Air	/
Iraqi Airways	/
Kuwait Airways	/			/	/
Mahan Air	/		/
Oman Air	/		/
Qatar Airways	/	/	/	/	/
Royal Jordanian	/
Saudia	/	/		/	/
Yemenia	/

  

Based on Table 1, shows that most Middle East airlines are serve to Kuala Lumpur. Moreover, Middle East Big Three (MEB3) airlines (Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways) are the airlines serving to most South East Asia hubs than any other Middle East carriers. From Figure 1 below shows that, Kuala Lumpur is also become transit hub for Emirates and Qatar Airways. Emirates is currently operating daily flight to Melbourne, Australia and Qatar Airways is also serves same frequency to holiday destination in Phuket, Thailand.  Besides that, Yemenia (from Sanaa – Dubai – Kuala Lump and Kuwait Airways are also operating route of Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta. In addition, from mid of December 2013, Egypt air will launch direct flight from its home based in Cairo to Kuala Lumpur and continue its journey to Jakarta.

Currently, Kuala Lumpur is end hub for Egypt Air on Cairo – Bangkok – Kuala Lumpur route. Royal Jordanian Airlines is also operating similar route, but Amman – Bangkok – Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur enjoys more connections in Middle East as the airport is linked to cities in Iran which are Tehran, Mashad and Shiraz. There are two operators serving cities in Iran to Kuala Lumpur, Iran air (from Tehran – Khomeini) and Mahan air (from Tehran – Khomeini, Mashad and Shiraz).

Saudia Airlines is largest airlines by cities serving to Kuala Lumpur. The airline is now operating cities of Madinah, Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Each route from Riyadh and Madinah is serving two weekly flights and meanwhile, Jeddah – Kuala Lumpur is operating four weekly flights.

Figure 1: Route Networks from Middle East to Kuala Lumpur

Factors attracting Middle East carriers to Kuala Lumpur than other city in South East Asia:

§  Malaysia is a Muslim country – 70% of Malaysians are Muslims.

§  Malaysia is destination for postgraduate education and medical – tourism industry

§  Small Middle Eastern community in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor Bharu

§  During summer season, Middle Eastern people choose Malaysia as holiday destinations

§  Limited flights offered by Malaysia carriers to Europe and Middle East and Africa – causing increasing demands passengers from these regions.

Figure 2: Percentage of passengers movement in KLIA of destinations serving from Kuala Lumpur in 2012.

Based on Figure 2 shows, that Passengers movement to Dubai is the highest percentage as compared other cities served. This is due to several reasons: 1) Emirates is the largest operator to Kuala Lumpur and served five daily flights to Kuala Lumpur and utilized of Emirates’ fleets of  Airbus 330 – 200, Airbus A380 – 800 and Boeing 777 – 300/300 ER.  This route is also served by Yemenia. However, the Yemenia’s seat capacity and frequency was smaller than Emirates. Anyhow, last October 2012, Malaysia Airlines resumed back daily and non – stop flight to Dubai.

Doha and Abu Dhabi are second and third largest percentage seats capacity served to Kuala Lumpur. These routes are served from their respective hub and operated by Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways.  Both airlines are operating double daily flights and using similar equipment of mixed of Airbus 330 – 200/300 and Boeing 777 – 300 ER.

Yemenia is the smallest Middle East Airlines that serves to Kuala Lumpur with one weekly flight and utilizing Airbus 330 – 200.

Iraqi Airways is latest carrier launched service to Kuala Lumpur after a 34 years lapse. The first flight was launched in 4^th September 2013 and operating two weekly flights and utilizing Boeing 777 – 200.

Gulf Air, is only major Middle East Airlines not operates to Kuala Lumpur. Previously, the route was served from its home based in Bahrain. Due to political tension, instability in Arab and low demand, has caused the airline suspended its operation to Kuala Lumpur in early 2012.