Malaysia Airlines plans to woo Indian tourists

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

KUALA LUMPUR, JANUARY 7: ‘‘ASIANS are the best tourists. They shop like mad, eat like mad and travel like mad,’’ says Abdul Kadir Bin Haji Sheikh Fadzir, Malaysian Minister for Tourism. And Malaysia Airlines (MAS) seems to have taken the cue.

With 97 aircraft and a new promotion strategy post-September 11, the airline is targeting India like never before. Md Nor Yusof, managing director, MAS, says promotional fares are being introduced for passengers from Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, the airline’s new flight points in the country.

‘‘Passengers from Chennai and Delhi are being wooed away from other airlines by offering tickets at competitive prices,’’ he says.

While the bonanza is expected to be announced in another week, Minister Fadzir says long-term plans include visa offices from Kolkata and Bangalore. Asked about MAS’ low-key awareness in India, Yusof believes the tie-up with the sponsors of the International India Festival in Malaysia should help raise the airline’s profile. ‘‘We want MAS to be a critical airbridge between the two countries,’’ he says.

MAS offers 4,025 seats a week to Kuala Lumpur from Chennai (7 flights), Delhi (4), Mumbai (4), Bangalore (2) and Hyderabad (1). ‘‘The Hyderabad and Bangalore services were introduced last year and have eased the burden on the Chennai flight. It used to get heavy bookings from passengers bound for Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, who would travel via Chennai,’’ says Anbarasu S. of MAS’ Corporate Communications department.

‘‘We want to tap the emerging affluent middle class and the ever-growing number of Indians working or living in other parts of the world, who return home at least once a year,’’ he says.

Despite the fear psychosis among air passengers after September 11, Yusof expects the Asian traffic to Malaysia to grow by 4-6 per cent.