Malaysia Seeks Additional Routes, Flight Schedule Changes From China - Transport Minister

From Hafizah Kamarudin BEIJING, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has sought additional routes and flight schedule changes for airlines from Malaysia. Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said AirAsia had applied for additional routes to Nanjing and Wuxi since last year, but had yet to receive any feedback. At present, AirAsia is allowed to fly to 19 destinations on 52 routes, most of them to second-tier cities, he told Malaysian reporters after calling on his Chinese counterpart, Li Xiao Peng here Wednesday. Liow is accompanying Prime Minister Najib Razak on his six-day official visit to China since Monday. Liow said he had asked the Chinese government to open the fifth freedom flights from Malaysia, particularly allowing Maskargo flights from Kuala Lumpur to Zhengzhou to continue flying to New Delhi to enhance productivity and foster closer cooperation between both countries. He said at present Maskargo flights to Zhengzhou needed to return to Kuala Lumpur before flying to New Delhi. The fifth freedom allows an airline to carry passengers from one's own country to a second country, and from that country to a third country (and so on). Liow said the ministry had also asked the Chinese government to allow China's Southern Airline to fly to the Melaka International Airport daily, instead of operating charter flights once in five days at present. In addition, he also asked China to consider Malaysia's appeal for changes to be made to flight schedules for daytime flights, instead of late night flights for passengers' convenience. Liow is confident that Malaysia's request would get a positive response from China and hopes the Department of Civil Aviation would resolve the issue as soon as possible. He also thanked his counterpart, Li for being attentive on the issues raised. -- BERNAMA