Latest news with #DersenishAresandiran
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia Airlines debuts special Manchester United livery during 2025 Asia post-season tour
Malaysia Airlines unveiled a specially designed Manchester United-themed livery on its A330-300 aircraft. SEPANG: Malaysia Airlines unveiled a specially designed Manchester United-themed livery on its A330-300 aircraft, celebrating its ongoing role as the Official Commercial Airline Partner. The special aircraft will carry the First Team to their next match scheduled in Hong Kong today as part of its post-season tour in Asia, showcasing a bold design that merges the airline's iconic Malaysia flag livery with Manchester United's iconic red - symbolising the shared values of passion, pride and global unity. This unique livery marks the continuation of the team's journey through Asia, with Malaysia Airlines operating dedicated charter services throughout the team's Asian tour. On May 26, Malaysia Airlines welcomed Manchester United's First Team to Kuala Lumpur via a specially chartered flight from Manchester, officially kicking off the tour and reinforcing the strength of this exclusive partnership. Following their match in Hong Kong, the team will travel back to Manchester aboard the airline's A350-900 aircraft, delivering the airline's signature Malaysian Hospitality every step of the way. This collaboration reaffirms the airline's commitment to delivering seamless connectivity and exceptional service, both in the air and on the ground. Through the Manchester United post-season tour, Malaysia Airlines has brought together thousands of fans of the club — as well as general football enthusiasts — from across the region, including Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and beyond, through a shared passion for the beautiful game. This initiative has fostered a sense of regional unity and excitement, demonstrating the power of sport to connect communities across borders. Beyond the stadium, Malaysia Airlines engaged fans through a lively activation zone, offering interactive games, photo opportunities and exclusive a giveaway on social media to provide its social fan base the opportunity to be part of the exciting match as well as an exclusive offer to fly from any part of the Malaysia Airlines' network to either Kuala Lumpur or Hong Kong with its signature Malaysian Hospitality. The airline also hosted top agents, partners, employees and Enrich members with exclusive hospitality and ticket access — creating an immersive and memorable experience for all. Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) chief commercial officer (airlines) Dersenish Aresandiran said, 'We are thrilled to support Manchester United for their post-season tour and to showcase this unique livery that celebrates our role as a connector of people, cultures and passions. 'As the gateway to Asia and beyond, we are proud to fly the team and their fans closer across the region. 'This collaboration reflects our ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation as we connect communities and inspire shared experiences around the world. We look forward to creating more lasting memories through meaningful partnerships that bring people together.' As the Manchester United post-season tour 2025 continues in Hong Kong, Malaysia Airlines is proud to fly one of the world's most iconic football clubs — offering a journey marked by signature Malaysian Hospitality and unforgettable experiences.
Borneo Post
7 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Malaysia Airlines, Google expand strategic partnership with AI-powered solutions
Powered by Google Gemini's advanced AI capabilities, Malaysia Airlines aims to deliver next-level personalisation across multiple customer touchpoints. — Bernama photo KUALA LUMPUR (May 27): Malaysia Airlines and Google have announced the expansion of their strategic commercial partnership, reinforcing a shared vision to redefine the future of travel through artificial intelligence (AI), data-driven marketing, and cutting-edge digital innovation. The renewed collaboration builds on a successful partnership established in 2024 and marks a significant milestone in Malaysia Airlines' ongoing digital transformation. The partnership will now deepen its focus on integrating AI-powered solutions across the airline's operations and enhancing the overall travel experience. Among the recent highlights of the partnership was an interactive AI showcase unveiled at the Matta Fair, which brought to life Malaysia Airlines' 'Time For' campaign. The showcase featured a pilot of Google's latest image-to-video generation technology, Veo, allowing visitors to transform personal travel photos into dynamic, shareable video content. The activation exemplified both companies' commitment to creating immersive, personalised travel experiences. At the heart of this strategic alignment is a mutual goal to elevate the traveller journey from start to finish. Powered by Google Gemini's advanced AI capabilities, Malaysia Airlines aims to deliver next-level personalisation across multiple customer touchpoints by supporting its ambition to become Asia's premier travel gateway and complementing national efforts in tourism development under the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. 'This is about transforming how we connect with our customers from inspiration to booking, to every interaction across the journey,' said Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) chief commercial officer of airlines Dersenish Aresandiran. 'By leveraging Google's advanced technology and global expertise, we're unlocking new opportunities, enhancing the travel experience, and reinforcing Malaysia's appeal as a world-class tourism destination.' The expanded collaboration between Malaysia Airlines and Google is formalised under a new Joint Business Plan that aligns with the airline's commercial growth strategy and brand aspirations. Central to this plan are several strategic pillars, including the use of AI-powered performance marketing through Google's Performance Max and AI-enhanced search tools to drive smarter, data-driven outcomes. The partnership also focuses on global brand building via YouTube, with targeted campaigns in key international markets such as the UK, Australia-New Zealand, Japan, and across Asean to strengthen brand visibility. Additionally, both companies are fostering an agile innovation culture by adopting a 'test and learn' mindset to accelerate digital transformation across the customer journey. Another key area is first-party data activation, aimed at unlocking deeper customer insights to enhance loyalty programmes like Enrich and improve premium cabin offerings. Google Malaysia country director Farhan Qureshi said the partnership exemplifies the potential of AI and creativity in revolutionising the travel industry. 'Our collaboration with Malaysia Airlines showcases how technology and creativity can converge to transform travel at scale. Together, we're pushing boundaries to deliver more relevant, intuitive, and engaging experiences for travellers worldwide.' This strategic expansion reflects Malaysia Airlines' commitment to digital excellence and its broader ambition to lead innovation within the aviation sector. By embracing AI to streamline operations and personalise services, the airline is positioning itself as a customer-centric, future-ready brand while supporting Malaysia's tourism goals on the global stage. Dersenish Aresandiran Farhan Qureshi Google Google Gemini Malaysia Airlines
The Sun
05-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysia Airlines – confident on tourism growth, mindful of headwinds
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines is confident on the continued recovery of tourism in 2025 and beyond, supported by stronger consumer confidence, greater mobility and improved economic conditions. However, the airline remains cautious, as rising tariffs, inflationary trends and global supply chain disruptions are expected to exert ongoing pressure on its operational costs. Malaysia Aviation Group chief commercial officer of airlines Dersenish Aresandiran said as a premium carrier, Malaysia Airlines is focused on delivering a compelling product offering that supports long-term growth. This includes ongoing fleet modernisation, enhanced passenger comfort and an overall improved travel experience. 'We are committed to ensuring network accessibility, offering flexible fare options and strengthening customer engagement through our Enrich loyalty programme and lifestyle integrations,' he told SunBiz. Dersenish said enhancing partnerships with government stakeholders to boost incentives for domestic travel, particularly during peak travel periods, remains a critical strategy. He noted that as the national carrier, Malaysia Airlines is working closely with Tourism Malaysia in supporting the goals of Visit Malaysia 2026 in strengthening air connectivity across the country and enriching the domestic tourism landscape. 'In tandem, we are actively working with state tourism bodies, including Sarawak Tourism Board, to support events such as the Rainforest World Music Festival, and Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) to continue positioning Langkawi as a top-tier domestic destination. These collaborations reinforce our commitment to growing Malaysia's domestic tourism ecosystem and supporting regional economic development,' he said. Malaysia Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) to put in place promotional activities. 'Building on past festive season initiatives that boosted travel through subsidies, promotions and targeted discounts, there is strong potential to formalise and expand these partnerships. 'By working closely with tourism boards, regional governments and related ministries, new incentive schemes such as travel vouchers, accommodation subsidies and special fare promotions can be developed. 'These initiatives would not only stimulate higher domestic travel demand during high-traffic periods but also support broader national tourism recovery goals, promote regional economic activity, and strengthen public-private sector cooperation in the travel and aviation industries,' Dersenish said. The airline has seen increased domestic airport arrivals (+6.1%), validating the importance of maintaining and optimising intra-Malaysia routes. Among the destinations that recorded significant year-on-year increases in passenger load factors from Kuala Lumpur are Bintulu (+11%), Langkawi Tawau, and Sandakan (+9%), Miri and Penang (+8%), Alor Setar, Kota Bharu, Kuantan, and Sibu (+7%), Kuching, Kuala Terengganu and Labuan (+6%), and Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu (+4%). Meanwhile, sister airline Firefly saw its domestic passenger load factors increase by more than 6% in 2024 versus 2023, driven by key routes such as from Subang to Penang and Johor Bahru. In terms of increased capacity, the top domestic routes that saw an increase in available seat kilometres (ASK) year-on-year are Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu (+19%) and Johor Bahru (+10%) by Malaysia Airlines, and from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau (+77%) and from Kuching to Tawau (+33%) by Firefly, respectively. Dersenish said Malaysia Airlines has strengthened its network connectivity, particularly to high-demand coastal and beach destinations, reflecting the growing interest in these routes. In addition, the airline has ramped up its marketing efforts to promote domestic tourism through the 'Bonus Side Trip' programme which includes seven key destinations: Alor Setar, Langkawi, Johor Bahru, Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan and Penang. This initiative supports Malaysia's economic growth while contributing to the broader ambitions of Visit Malaysia Year 2026. Touching on fleet modernisation and expansion, Dersenish said Malaysia Airlines' commitment to modernise its fleet is underscored by the recent orders for the Boeing 737-8 and 737-10 aircraft under the second phase of its narrow-body replacement programme. He added that this investment will enhance fuel efficiency, reliability and the overall passenger experience. 'The 737-8, which has been in service with Malaysia Airlines since 2023, marks the beginning of our narrow-body fleet renewal. Additionally, we are upgrading some key domestic flights, including services to East Malaysia, by introducing wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft during peak times to increase capacity and enhance cargo capabilities,' Dersenish said. Malaysia Airlines remains committed to supporting national connectivity and affordability. During major festive seasons, Dersenish said, the government deploys subsidised fixed-fare promotions to ensure travel remains accessible to all Malaysians. 'Meanwhile, we are enhancing Firefly's connectivity from Subang with over 2,100 weekly flights to eight destinations, including Kota Kinabalu and Kuching,' he added.
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysia Airlines, Melbourne Airport sign MoU to enhance connectivity
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines Bhd and Melbourne Airport have formalised a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support the carrier's strategic expansion into Victoria, representing a key milestone in enhancing air connectivity and ties between Malaysia and Australia. The collaboration signifies the commencement of an enhanced strategic partnership aimed at expanding Malaysia Airlines' network and strengthening its position as a pivotal transit hub in Kuala Lumpur for travellers from Victoria to Malaysia and other international destinations. As part of its expansion strategy, Malaysia Airlines will introduce a third daily service to Melbourne starting October, increasing its total frequency to 21 weekly flights from 14 currently. This enhanced connectivity underscores the airline's commitment to the Australian market and solidifies its position as the preferred carrier between Malaysia and Victoria. Malaysia Aviation Group chief commercial officer of airlines Dersenish Aresandiran said this collaboration marks an exciting new chapter for Malaysia Airlines as the carrier expands its network with the introduction of a third daily service to Melbourne. 'Through our partnership with Melbourne Airport, we aim to enhance connectivity, drive demand, and reinforce our position as the gateway to Asia and beyond. This initiative will strengthen ties between Malaysia and Australia, supporting cultural, business, and tourism exchanges, and creating new opportunities for both regions,' he said in a statement. To support this growth, Malaysia Airlines will progressively deploy its brand-new A330neo aircraft on the Kuala Lumpur–Melbourne route, aiming to operate all 21 weekly flights using the new fleet by the end of the year. Travellers can look forward to greater flexibility and improved connections via Kuala Lumpur to key destinations across Southeast Asia, India, and Europe. Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said the increase in Malaysia Airlines services would be welcomed by travellers and exporters. 'Malaysia Airlines has been serving Victoria for decades, and this capacity increase underscores the airline's ongoing commitment to our city and state. It speaks to the importance of the Victorian market that Malaysia Airlines plans Malaysia Airlines plans to use its newest aircraft, featuring the latest onboard product, for its enhanced Melbourne services.' The MoU also sets the stage for joint promotional campaigns aimed at increasing travel demand and boosting passenger numbers between Malaysia and Victoria. Through targeted marketing efforts, both parties aim to raise awareness, drive revenue, and further strengthen the partnership. The collaboration is aligned with Malaysia Airlines' strategy to expand its international presence and deliver a seamless, premium travel experience, promoting tourism, business, and cultural exchange between Malaysia and Australia.
Rakyat Post
24-04-2025
- Business
- Rakyat Post
Malaysia Airlines, Brisbane Airport And Tourism And Events Queensland Sign Strategic MoU To Boost Travel To Queensland
Subscribe to our FREE Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB), Brisbane Airport, and Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) have signed a strategic tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen tourism and air connectivity between Malaysia and Queensland, Australia. The signing ceremony on 19 April 2025, marks the beginning of a three-year collaboration in support of Malaysia Airlines' network expansion plans, coinciding with the recent announcement of its new Kuala Lumpur – Brisbane service, unveiled at the MATTA Fair. The new service is scheduled to commence on 29 November 2025, with five weekly flights. To mark the launch, attractive all-in return fares are available from MYR 1,999 for Economy Class and MYR 8,999 for Business Class. These introductory fares are available for booking now until 18 May 2025. Dersenish Aresandiran, Chief Commercial Officer of Airlines from Malaysia Aviation Group, said, 'This collaboration marks an exciting new chapter for Malaysia Airlines as we continue to expand our network with the introduction of the Kuala Lumpur–Brisbane route. We are committed to offering passengers more direct flight options while ensuring an exceptional travel experience rooted in comfort, premium service, and the warmth of Malaysian Hospitality. By partnering with Brisbane Airport and Tourism and Events Queensland, we can leverage shared insights to drive demand, enhance connectivity, and strengthen our position as the gateway to Asia and beyond. We look forward to supporting tourism and trade between Malaysia and Queensland, connecting people, cultures, and opportunities.' The sentiment was echoed by Brisbane Airport, who welcomed the return of Malaysia Airlines to Brisbane. Anthony Cicuttini, SVP and Head of Aviation Business Development, Brisbane Airport, said, 'We are delighted to welcome Malaysia Airlines back to Brisbane Airport. The Kuala Lumpur hub allows seamless connectivity to Malaysia and other key markets in Asia and Europe for travellers and is a welcome addition to Brisbane's network. With the return of Malaysia Airlines, Brisbane Airport is officially back to our pre-pandemic numbers of 33 direct destinations. Partnering with Malaysia Airlines and Tourism and Events Queensland enables sustained success of the services, driving traffic and trade across the network. By leveraging the strength of each partner, we are creating an environment for success.' Tourism and Events Queensland also shared their enthusiasm for the collaboration and the positive impact it will bring to the state's visitor economy. Craig Davidson, Chief Executive Officer of Tourism and Events Queensland, said 'This is a fantastic outcome for Queensland's visitor economy and our ongoing commitment to grow aviation access. Malaysia is a key market for us, and this partnership with Malaysia Airlines and Brisbane Airport will make it easier than ever for travellers from across Asia to discover Queensland. From the Great Barrier Reef to our vibrant cities and glorious golden coasts, there's a world of experiences waiting in our vast and beautiful state, and we're excited to welcome more travellers to explore it all.' This partnership aims to stimulate travel demand to Queensland by leveraging the combined strengths, insights, and market reach of all three parties. Through coordinated marketing initiatives and joint promotional campaigns, the collaboration will enhance Queensland's appeal as a preferred destination, while positioning Malaysia Airlines as the preferred carrier for travellers flying into Brisbane. The new route and strategic partnership are expected to bring significant economic and tourism benefits, strengthening bilateral ties and facilitating greater people-to-people connectivity between Malaysia and Queensland. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
