Malaysia Airlines made a historic return to Kolkata, India, with the launch of a direct service after 18 years.
The five weekly scheduled flights began on December 2, 2024. Outbound flight MH184 departs Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) at 21:35 local time, arriving at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) 23:00 local time after a flight time of three hours and 45 minutes.
The flights are serviced by the airline’s fleet of B737-800 aircraft.
This week marks the beginning of an exciting journey as we celebrated the inaugural flight to Kolkata, India 🇮🇳 on Monday.
— Malaysia Airlines (@MAS) December 4, 2024
Our very first passengers were warmly welcomed on board as we proudly brought Malaysian hospitality to the City of Joy.
This officiates our 10th route to… pic.twitter.com/bzDXPyzx92
“We are delighted to recommence direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and the bustling metropolis of Kolkata, strengthening the bond between Malaysia and India while opening exciting opportunities for both leisure and business travelers,” Ahmad Luqman Mohd Azmi, Chief Executive Officer of Airlines at Malaysia Airlines Group said in a statement.
“This route reinforces our commitment to offering luxurious and culturally immersive travel experiences, further solidifying Malaysia Airlines’ position as the gateway to Malaysia and beyond for discerning travellers. As we embark on this journey, we invite everyone to discover the rich heritage, dynamic cityscapes, and unmatched hospitality that Kolkata has to offer,” Azmi added.
With the addition of this new service, Malaysia Airlines, along with its partnership with IndiGo, now connects Malaysia to 16 destinations across India.
Under the codeshare deal, which took effect in October 2024, Malaysia Airlines’ flight code “MH” will be added to seven domestic destinations in India, including:
- Kolkata-Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU)
- Varanasi International Airport (VNS)
- Patna Jay Prakash Narayan Airport (PAT)
- Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ)
- Goa Dabolim Airport (GOI)
- Bhubaneswar Biju Patnaik Airport (BBI)
- Visakhapatnam Airport (VTZ)
Indians are the second largest minority group in Malaysia, after the Chinese, making up about 8% of the country’s population. Malaysia is the third country with the largest Indian diaspora, after the United States and United Arab Emirates.