KLIA, 12 April 2020: Malaysia Airlines this week operated several rescue flights to Egypt and New Zealand as well as deportation flights to Indonesia in its latest mission to reunite Malaysians and foreigners alike with their loved ones.
Flight MH8453 arrived from Cairo on Saturday, 11 April 2020 with 285 Malaysian students currently undergoing tertiary education in Egypt. The mission was made possible in partnership with educational platform MedicMesir. Operated by the Airbus A330-300 the flight marked Malaysia Airlines’ return to Cairo International Airport, where the airline used to fly commercial flights until 2006.
Additionally, following the travel ban instituted by the Government of New Zealand from 20 March 2020, Malaysia Airlines has been operating chartered rescue flights sponsored by the Government of the Netherlands, from Auckland, New Zealand to Kuala Lumpur to ferry Dutch nationals. Once in KLIA, passengers will board the repatriation flight operated by Dutch national carrier KLM back home to Amsterdam.
Flight MH8496 from Auckland arrived at 9.40pm on Monday, 6 April 2020, carrying 277 Dutch nationals. It was operated by the Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Subsequently, the airline uplifted a further 253 Dutch nationals on 8 April 2020 and 277 more on 10 April 2020.
Malaysia Airlines also operated deportation flights, sending Indonesian citizens home on 9 and 10 April 2020. A total of 6 flights were operated, with 4 flights being operated to Jakarta and the remainder to Medan, operated by a combination of Boeing 737-800 aircraft and Airbus A330-300 aircraft. A total of 1,060 deportees were ferried on these flights, with two immigration officers per flight bringing it to a total of 1,072 passengers.
Malaysia Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer Captain Izham Ismail said, “We are glad to be of further assistance to the Government of Netherlands and KLM, following our rescue flights to Melbourne and Cebu last week. As the world braces itself against COVID-19, Malaysia Airlines is committed to play our role to make sure families are reunited in this challenging and uncertain time.”
Malaysian students practice social distancing while waiting in line to be checked in for their flight at Cairo International Airport
Dutch passengers at Auckland Airport meet with Embassy and MAB officials before their repatriation flight
