M'SIA GETS NOD FOR MORE LANDING RIGHTS TO FRANCE

From Siti Hawa Othman

TOULOUSE (FRANCE), Nov 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has received additional landing rights to France by October next year, Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat announced Friday.

Speaking after witnessing the first delivery of AirAsia X's first brand new
Airbus A330 here, he said the French government approved the third freedom
rights for the seven times weekly KL-Paris sector currently operated by Malaysia
Airlines.

He said Malaysia also received the greenlight for the fourth freedom rights
from Kuala Lumpur or two other secondary airports in Malaysia except Subang near
Kuala Lumpur to Lyon, the second largest city in France.

Ong said Malaysia also received the greenlight for the fifth freedom rights
involving the stopover at certain cities, that is Kuala Lumpur-Paris-London and
from Kuala Lumpur to any destinations east of Paris to Paris.

According to the minister, the frequency will be discussed further and the
rights are subject to the number of passengers not less than 80.

He said for the past six months, his ministry had been stepping up efforts
in seeking new routes.