British Airways touched down in Kuala Lumpur today for the first time in five years, marking a significant milestone in reconnecting Malaysia with the United Kingdom. This route launch, together with the expansion of the airline’s codeshare partnership with Malaysia Airlines, means customers now have more choice and flexibility to explore Europe and beyond.
The UK flag carrier departed London Heathrow at 21:10 local time on April 1, landing at the Malaysian’s capital at 17:20 local time. To welcome the first flight's arrival, customers were greeted with goodie bags and special gifts. The route will operate daily from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) to London Heathrow (LHR) using its Boeing 787-900 fleet, with four class cabins (World Traveller, World Traveller Plus, Club World and First).
British Airways’ Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, Neil Chernoff, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Malaysia back to our network. For our UK customers, Kuala Lumpur is a key gateway in Asia, and our enhanced codeshare partnership with Malaysia Airlines now opens an array of new destinations across Asia Pacific and the UK. For our customers travelling to London, we’re pleased to offer another direct option for those who wish to visit the UK.
"With this expansion, we hope customers take advantage of visiting somewhere new, all whilst enjoying our premium service on board delivered by our incredible colleagues."
The Managing Director of Malaysia Airports, Dato' Mohd Izani Ghani said: “The return of an iconic airline such as British Airways to Kuala Lumpur further strengthens the long-standing ties between Malaysia and the United Kingdom, boosting tourism, trade, and cultural exchange. It also underscores Malaysia Airports’ commitment to enhancing global connectivity and establishing KLIA's position as a premier travel hub in Southeast Asia. The airline’s return enhances its appeal to travellers seeking seamless access to both local and international destinations.”
In addition to resuming flights to Kuala Lumpur, British Airways has also expanded its codeshare partnership with Malaysia Airlines, offering customers more travel options and seamless access onwards to more than 17 cities via Kuala Lumpur*. This includes travel from key destinations in Malaysia, as well as further afield including Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, which are all available to book as part of a single booking with British Airways.
The expanded partnership will also see Malaysia Airlines increase its codeshare on British Airways with the addition of four London-US routes, including Boston, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Portland. This allows Malaysia Airlines customers to book journeys between Malaysia and the US as part of a single booking. .
This flight resumption underpins British Airways’ continued investment in Asia-Pacific, expanding travel options between Malaysia and the UK while strengthening business, tourism, and cultural ties. The airline also recently relaunched flights from London Gatwick to Bangkok as well as broadening its codeshare agreement with Bangkok Airways, enabling seamless connections from Bangkok to the six popular holiday destinations of Koh Samui, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Phnom Penh, and Siem Reap.
The KLIA Ekspres train will also be offering up to 12% discount to British Airways customers to celebrate the restart of the route. This will be available for customers flying from April 1 – 30 2025, making travel easier for customers to connect to the city in just 28 minutes. For more details about KLIA Ekspres services, customers can visit www.KLIAekspres.com
ENDS
*Key destinations for the codeshare include - in Australia (Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth), New Zealand (Aukland), Cambodia (Phnom Penh), Indonesia (Jakarta, Denpasar - Bali), Malaysia (Alor Setar, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Kuantan, Langkawi, Penang), Singapore, Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket), and Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh).
Notes to Editors
- The daily flight from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London Heathrow (LHR) is available to book through www.ba.com from MYR 3667.
