Coming just days after the carrier announced an increase in services from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney Airport in Australia, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has announced that it is set to launch direct nonstop flights from its home base to Brisbane in Queensland in conjunction with Brisbane Airport (BNE), and Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ). The parties have signed a strategic tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen tourism and air connectivity between Malaysia and Queensland, Australia, says a Malaysia Airlines statement.
Announced on April 23, 2025, and following a signing ceremony held on April 19, 2025, the partnership marks the beginning of a three-year collaboration in support of Malaysia Airlines’ network expansion plans, which include the announcement of its new Kuala Lumpur to Brisbane direct services. The new service is scheduled to commence on 29 November 2025, with five weekly flights.
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,” says the airline.
“This collaboration marks an exciting new chapter for Malaysia Airlines as we continue to expand our network with the introduction of the Kuala Lumpur to Brisbane route,” said Dersenish Aresandiran, Chief Commercial Officer of Airlines from Malaysia Aviation Group. “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,” he added.
The sentiment was echoed by Brisbane Airport, which 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 its 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 its 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.”
Following the respective governments of Malaysia and Australia recently agreeing to an increase in air rights between Australia and Malaysia, the flag carrier of Malaysia has been exploring ways to expand in the Australian market. The agreement, signed in November 2024, saw the weekly total permitted seats between the two countries bumped to 50,000 from a previous cap of 36,000.
As a result, on April 22, 2025, the airline announced it would increase services between Kuala Lumpur and Sydney to a three-times daily service starting in October 2025. This will make Sydney Airport’s annual capacity of the KUL-SYD route over 630,000 seats – the highest for any Australian airport.
