New air link is agreed
8 July 2006



Malaysia Airlines started operations to Bahrain, becoming the 38th international airline to operate to the kingdom.

The inaugural flight was received by airport director Mohammed Al Kabi, who cut a welcome cake at the airport with pilot Captain Aswardy Moktar.

Civil Aviation Affairs Under-Secretary Captain Abdulrahman Al Gaoud hosted a luncheon reception for the crew and airline officials at the Moevenpick Hotel.

He conveyed the greetings of Deputy Prime Minister and Transportation Minister Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa to Malaysia Airlines.

"The Deputy Prime Minister has pledged his full support to the airline's operational plan for Bahrain," said Capt Al Gaoud.

"The new air link will further strengthen the aviation ties between the two countries." Malaysian Ambassador Naimun Ashakli Mohammad, who also attended the reception, praised Shaikh Ali's efforts in encouraging Malaysia Airlines to operate to Bahrain.

"The new air services will help strengthen the bilateral relations between our two brotherly countries," he added.

"We are extremely delighted with the high international standard of services provided by Bahrain International Airport to foreign airlines."

The luncheon reception was also attended by the airline's regional marketing manager for Middle East and Africa, Vinay Nambiar.

The inaugural flight carried 150 passengers to Bahrain from Kuala Lumpur.

More than 100 passengers, including Justice Minister Dr Mohammed Al Sitri, boarded the flight from Bahrain.

Malaysia Airlines will operate on Wednesdays and Fridays, using the modern Airbus A330 aircraft.

It will operate on the Kuala Lumpur-Bahrain-Dubai- Kuala Lumpur sectors. Malaysia Airlines vice president for Middle East and Africa Halimy Mahmood said earlier this year that 17 flights would be operated from Kuala Lumpur to Bahrain between today and September 1.

"During the peak period of July and August, we expect good traffic and would take this to be a springboard to regular operations in the very near future," Mr Mahmood said during the Bahrain International Travel Expo - BITE 2006.

"A large number of Bahrainis travel to Malaysia every summer .After September 1, we shall halt flights for a while, only to come back with regular, scheduled operations.

"Mr Mahmood said the Malaysian government had stepped up efforts to promote Malaysia in Bahrain and the other GCC states. "This is being done by promoting the medical tourism and educational facilities in Malaysia," he revealed.

"The total number of tourist arrivals in Malaysia reached 16.4 million in 2005, with receipts estimated at a whopping $8.72 billion (BD32.2bn). "As far as this region is concerned, Malaysia registered 147,646 visitors from the Gulf during 2005, which is a 17.1 per cent increase compared to the same period the previous year."


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