Malaysia To Add US Flights After Safety Rating Boost

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has upgraded Malaysia’s air safety rating to Category 1, allowing the country’s carriers to expand flights to the United States after a three-year hiatus, Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong said Saturday.

Wee said the move will bolster tourism and economic growth in Malaysia, which opened up from pandemic shutdowns in April.

“With the return to Category 1, our airlines can now mount new flights to the U.S. and have code sharing with American carriers. There is no more barrier now,” said Wee, who was in Montreal for an ICAO assembly. “This is good news after the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Riad Asmat, CEO of low-cost carrier AirAsia Malaysia, said it was a “very good start.” He said AirAsia, currently the only Malaysian carrier that flies to the United States — from Kuala Lumpur to Honolulu — will seek opportunities to expand in the U.S.

The FAA lowered Malaysia’s rating in November 2019 to Category 2 due to non-compliance with safety standards. The FAA identified deficiencies in areas including technical expertise, record keeping and inspection procedures.

Under the FAA system, countries are listed either as Category 1, which meets International Civil Aviation Organization standards, or Category 2, which doesn’t meet standards.

Wee told an online news conference that the downgrade prompted Malaysia to restructure its Civil Aviation Authority and make various efforts to strengthen its aviation workforce, documentation processes and inspection methods to ensure effective safety oversight.

He said the FAA was satisfied the issues identified in 2019 had been rectified, but found 29 new problems in its December assessment. Those issues were swiftly rectified in the first half this year, he said, and the FAA has restored Malaysia’s Category 1 rating.

Malaysia Airlines CEO Izham Ismail said the national carrier will resume flight plans with its partners, especially American Airlines, but didn’t elaborate.

Malaysia Airlines Sale - Your Gateway To Sun And Adventure, Through September 6th.

Malaysia Airlines, has today launched an end of summer sale, with flights to the Far East, Australia and New Zealand.

 August 23rd, 2016 - Malaysia Airlines, has today launched an end of summer sale, with flights to the Far East, Australia and New Zealand. 

Between now and midnight on 6 September 2016, travelers can book flights with return fares starting at £479 (economy) and £1799 (business class) to selected destinations across the airlines network. 

With Malaysia Airlines, travelers can visit the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur, soak up the sun in Phuket, leave the beaten track in Ho Chi Minh City. Explore the hidden treasures of Singapore, or discover Sydney - best known for its Opera House and Harbour Bridge. 

The journey begins at London Heathrow airport onboard one of our twice daily Superjumbo A380s to Kuala Lumpur, from where a convenient and seamless connection will take you to any of our other exciting destinations around Malaysia, across Asia and Australasia. 

Paul Simmons, Chief Commercial Officer, said: "We are committed to making travel more affordable for our customers. As the summer starts to draw to an end, make the most of this fantastic opportunity to enjoy some winter sun and adventure in our exciting destinations."

To enjoy this promotion, customers can book now at www.malaysiaairlines.com or via their local travel agent.

 Examples Sale Fares

Destination	Economy Class Return from (GBP)	Business Class Return from (GBP)
Kuala Lumpur	479.00	2039.00
Penang	519.00	2199.00
Singapore	569,00	1929.00
Bangkok	479.00	1799.00
Ho Chi Minh City	539.00	1899.00
Sydney	689.00	2729.00
Auckland	729.00	3329.00

MH370 Search: More Debris Found On Beach

Police take away an item found washed up on Reunion Island days after a wing-part was sent to France examination

Police collecting an object from a beach on La Reunion

• Share on Twitter
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• Share by emailA 'metallic' object that could be from the missing plane MH370 has been found washed up on Reunion Island, say Sky sources.Sky's David Bowden said it was discovered in a different location to the flaperon which is currently undergoing tests in France to find out if it is from MH370.The flaperon was found on a beach in the town of Saint-Andre. Bowden said the new object was found closer to the capital Saint-Denis.

A 'metallic' object that could be from the missing plane MH370 has been found washed up on Reunion Island, say Sky sources.

Sky's David Bowden said it was discovered in a different location to the flaperon which is currently undergoing tests in France to find out if it is from MH370.

The flaperon was found on a beach in the town of Saint-Andre. Bowden said the new object was found closer to the capital Saint-Denis.

Pictures taken before police took the object away show a twisted piece of metal with symbols etched into it, with a handle that looks as if it is made from leather or plastic.

Bowden said that although it is not known if the object is from the doomed Malaysia Airlines flight or from a Boeing 777, it had Chinese and Malaysian writing on it and was thought to be from the inside of an aircraft.

He said it was taken away by police in an aluminium case that was just over 30cm (one foot) long.

Bowden said he approached the officers on Reunion and was told: "No comment."

It was earlier thought that the object found was the door of a plane, but Bowden said that did not now appear to be the case.

Malaysian officials, who were said to be heading to La Reunion on Saturday, have said they want to expand the area being searched for debris to other aviation authorities in other parts of the Indian Ocean.

It comes after other reports that debris that could have come from the plane washed up previously on beaches on La Reunion but was burned because it was not thought significant.

MH370 disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014.

The latest find comes as the wing part that was found earlier on Reunion arrived at a French laboratory for analysis.

Video: MH370: Timeline Of Events

The debris, which was first flown to Paris, was driven to a military base near Toulouse, which specialises in analysing aviation wreckage.

Air accident experts will examine the wreckage to determine whether it belongs to MH370.

If confirmed, the discovery could offers hope of an explanation to the families and loved ones of the 239 missing passengers and crew.

Aviation experts say the component may have stayed afloat due to air pockets in its structure and is almost certainly part of a Boeing 777.

Experts will attempt to verify the serial number of the wing-flap before conducting further tests to establish why it separated from the rest of the plane.

Investigators believe someone on board MH370 may have switched off its transponder, which allows it to be located, before flying it thousands of miles away from its intended course.

Source: www.news.sky.com

MH370: Badly Damaged Suitcase Washed Up On A Reunion Island Beach

A suitcase was found Thursday morning on a tropical beach on the popular volcanic tourist island Reunion.

Reunion is part of the Vanilla Island group in the Southern Indian Ocean and a part of France.

This may not just be any suitcase. It appears to be a very damages piece of luggage washed away from a Boeing 777 and belonging to a passenger on flight MH370, the missing Malaysia Airlines flight.

The suitcase was found on the same beach in the small Reunion town of St.Andrew. It was on the same beach debris of an airline wing was secured a day before on Wednesday.

Boeing investigators on the island confirmed the part found on the beach on Wednesday was a flap from a Boeing 777 wing floating in the water for at least a year.

Australian, Malaysian and French authorities are now more convinced than ever, the material found on the beach may be a major step forward to clear up the mystery around MH370. This was echoed by Australia's deputy prime minister earlier, calling it a major lead.

The suitcase was locked and in very bad condition according to French authorities on Reunion.

Hardly anyone now believes earlier statements debris were from a different plane. All focus is on MH370.

Is the greatest mystery in aviation history about to be solved?