Malaysia Airlines resumed direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Fukuoka on September 2, restoring the only direct link between the two cities and expanding the carrier’s presence in Japan’s Kyushu region.
The inaugural service, flight MH56, departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 at 11.45pm on September 2 for Fukuoka International Airport, operating on a Boeing 737-8. The outbound leg recorded a load factor of 88%, while the return flight on September 3 carried a load factor of 90%. Passengers on the inaugural departure were given a send-off event featuring a Japanese food stall and photo backdrop themed around Fukuoka’s street-food culture, along with Malaysia Airlines merchandise and commemorative oden plushies.
Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar, president and group chief executive officer of Malaysia Aviation Group, and Bryan Foong, chief executive officer of airline business at Malaysia Aviation Group, attended the Kuala Lumpur celebration alongside Noriyuki Shikata, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Malaysia.
The aircraft received a water cannon salute on arrival in Fukuoka at 7.05am on September 3. Dato’ Ahmad Rozian Abd Ghani, Ambassador-designate of Malaysia to Japan, attended the arrival ceremony alongside Low Wen Long, group chief strategy officer of Malaysia Aviation Group, and Shinji Tagawa, representative director and president and chief executive officer of Fukuoka International Airport Co., Ltd.
The route will operate up to five times weekly, taking Malaysia Airlines’ total weekly Japan frequency to 26 flights alongside existing services to Tokyo via Narita and Osaka. Under the carrier’s joint business partnership with Japan Airlines, passengers connecting via Fukuoka can access Japan Airlines domestic routes to Amami, Sapporo, Izumo, Kochi, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Yakushima, Matsuyama and Tokushima.
Malaysia Airlines is offering fare savings of up to 30% under its MATTA Fair promotion for bookings made by September 14, with additional discounts for Enrich members and VISA cardholders booking through the airline’s website or app.