BA launching LHR-MEL via KUL from January 2027 (BA33/BA34)

Not much different between First and Biz also...and cheaper than the above example ...Screenshot_20260317-183807.British Airways.png
 
History is littered with the graves of airlines who tried and failed on the KUL-Oz routes over the past 40 years including Lauda, Ansett and QF when AirAsia was just a glint in Tony’s eye, not to mention now they are around.

Not forgetting Jetstar who also flew to KL early on in their long-haul life.
 
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Getting capacity into LHR is probably more important to Qantas and the Australian government than SYD/MEL is to BA and the UK government.

Qantas won’t make a fuss about BA. They want their LHR slots without a fuss too.

And you can’t put BA in the same category as QR when it comes to QF. Their relationship is complex. BA currently codeshares on QF MEL-SIN amongst others.


Yep, probably one of the easiest routes to add. Rights already exist. LHR slots already allocated to KUL service. MEL slots not difficult to get.

Only other question is around fifth freedom for Australia/Malaysia does BA already have that?

The UK and AU agreements are very liberal - and already account for 5th freedoms - which is why QF was able to sell DXB-LHR and SIN-LHR.

It’s really just up to Malaysia to approve it if they hadn’t already. Given the old QF/BA JV I’m sure a number of agreements already cater for it, including Malaysia.
 
It’s really just up to Malaysia to approve it if they hadn’t already. Given the old QF/BA JV I’m sure a number of agreements already cater for it, including Malaysia.
Malaysia Australia went unlimited capacity this year following new agreements signed in 2024, effectively open skies
 
Malaysia Australia went unlimited capacity this year following new agreements signed in 2024, effectively open skies
I remember now
 

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