Malaysia Airlines and the Arab Air Carriers’ Organisation (AACO) have announced an exciting new partnership this week. The airline will join IAG, Pegasus Airlines, and Turkish Airlines as partners of the pan-Arabian organisation, expanding their presence in the Middle East and North Africa.

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What does this mean for Malaysia Airlines?

Malaysia Airlines has seemingly faced endless issues since its renationalisation. The airline has operated at a loss since before the pandemic, having turned to the government for a bailout in November 2020.

However, the downturn in air travel has surprisingly opened some promising opportunities for the airline's future. Meticulous work has been done to build up codeshare agreements and partnerships, most notably with Singapore Airlines, JAL, and British Airways.

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This isn't the first partnership for Malaysia, who have been working closely with other carriers across Asia. Photo: Getty Images

Malaysia’s recent partnership with AACO will add to this, creating close links across the Middle East. Current CEO of Malaysia Airlines Berhad, Captain Izham Ismail, has stated:

“We are delighted to join the AACO as one of its partner airlines, further extending our reach and network to facilitate global air connectivity whilst elevating our brand presence within the Middle East and African region. At a time when uncertainty still lingers within the aviation industry, it is vital for us to leverage on our strategic partnerships as we anticipate the safe reopening of our borders.”

Building new alliances

The partnership is one of Ismail’s “key pillars” for Malaysia’s long-term business plan, which aims to turn the airline into the leading aviation service within Asia.

AACO serves as the regional association of airlines within the Arab League and currently has 32 members, including big players such as Emirates, Saudia, and Qatar Airways. It serves 408 airports across 124 countries, providing Malaysia with a strong network of carriers to work alongside.

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CEO Izham Ismail believes partnering with the AACO will help the carrier achieve its goal of becoming Asia's top airline. Photo: Getty Images

Ismail anticipates that the partnership will help the AACO and Malaysia utilize each other’s strengths and expertise within research and development, improve safety and security, and provide a transfer of knowledge on new technologies and digitization. AACO Secretary General, Abdul Wahab Teffaha, has said of the partnership:

"Malaysia Airlines is a pioneer in aviation, particularly in terms of customer service and regional connectivity throughout Southeast Asia and beyond. The Arab region's ties to Malaysia have always been strong, and we hope that having Malaysia Airlines as a Partner Airline would strengthen those ties even more. I am confident that the collaboration will benefit both Malaysia Airlines and AACO alike."

No surprises?

Malaysia Airlines’ entry into the Arab market is seemingly a long time coming. The Southeast Asian country has a predominantly Muslim population and holds close links with other Islamic countries.

The airline’s pilgrimage arm, AMAL, has previously worked with the Saudi government under the “Mecca Road Initiative” which brought 20,000 Malaysians to Mecca for Hajj in 2019.

The partnership with AACO comes shortly after the announcement that the airline will resume its pilgrimage flights for 2022, reconnecting Kuala Lumpur with Jeddah and Madinah.

What do you think of the partnership between Malaysia Airlines and the AACO? Let us know by leaving a comment.