Stay up to date with the latest in the travel and hospitality industry, from airline launches and route expansions to new trends and transportation developments shaping the way we explore the world.

This is the April 2025 edition of Airline and Travel News.

PENANG MARRIOTT HOTEL LAUDED AT THE 2024 TRIPZILLA TRAVEL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

After only a year of operations, Penang Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments Penang are proud to have been recently recognised at the 2024 TripZilla Travel Excellence Awards, reinforcing their standing as top hospitality destinations in the region.

The Penang Marriott Hotel secured two major accolades: ‘Business Star,’ recognising its outstanding amenities and services for corporate travellers, and ‘Rising Star,’ highlighting its swift rise as a premier choice for guests seeking exceptional experiences in Penang. Meanwhile, Marriott Executive Apartments Penang earned the title of ‘Serviced Residence Star,’ a nod to its premium long-stay offerings that blend residential comfort with five-star hotel luxury.

Both properties offer thoughtfully designed spaces, from modern guest rooms and meeting facilities at the Marriott Hotel to fully furnished apartments with kitchens and living areas at the Executive Apartments. Guests also enjoy superb amenities, including outdoor infinity pools, fitness centres, and a variety of dining options.

These awards reflect the dedication of the entire Penang Marriott team in delivering memorable stays and personalised service. Inspired by this recognition, both properties remain committed to raising the bar in hospitality excellence.

For bookings and enquiries, visit the official website or follow them on social media.

BATIK AIR LAUNCHES YEAR-ROUND MELBOURNE FLIGHTS

Malaysia’s Batik Air plans to introduce year-round flights between Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne. The service will operate four times a week using a 377-seat widebody Airbus A330-300 aircraft, featuring 12 seats in business class and 365 in economy class.

Batik Air is part of the Lion Air Group and the extra Kuala Lumpur services will supplement the carrier’s daily flights between Melbourne and Bali.

With international capacity at record highs, Melbourne Airport says it continues to focus on delivering new terminal, airfield and road infrastructure to cater for current demand and future growth.

In February 2025, Melbourne Airport recorded a total of 2,729,545 people through the terminals, including 930,356 international travellers.

The airport’s chief executive officer, Lorie Argus, said Batik Air’s year-round service would provide more choice for Victorians heading abroad, as well as international students and visitors looking to visit Melbourne. “Having three airline groups offering year-round service between Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur makes this route more competitive than most Australian domestic routes,” she said.

Batik Air markets itself as a full-service carrier and the airline currently serves more than 70 destinations across India and Southeast Asia. Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia X also serve the Kuala Lumpur-Melbourne route.

To learn more, visit batikair.com.my.

BRITISH AIRWAYS RESUMES FLIGHTS TO KL

As of April 2, British Airways has resumed direct flights to Kuala Lumpur after a five-year hiatus. The carrier suspended its route to the Malaysian capital as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and had been set to resume flights in November 2024, before pushing the restart back to April 2025 due to delivery delays at aircraft engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce.

Flight BA33 departs Heathrow at 2110, arriving into Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 1720 the following day, with the return leg BA34 leaving KL at 2250 and landing back into London at 0535 the following day.

The route is being served by BA’s four-class Boeing 787-9 aircraft, offering World Traveller, World Traveller Plus, Club World and First seating.

The carrier recently expanded its codeshare partnership with fellow oneworld member Malaysia Airlines, meaning customers can book single tickets for onward connections from Kuala Lumpur to destinations including Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

For bookings, visit ba.com.

MANDARIN ORIENTAL, KUALA LUMPUR UNVEILS ENHANCED MO CLUB

In tandem with its newly refreshed MO Club Lounge, Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur has also proudly introduced its enhanced MO Club experience, offering an elevated level of comfort, personalised service, and exclusive privileges in the heart of the city.

Designed for discerning guests, MO Club members enjoy flexible check-in and check-out, daily pressing, laundry and dry-cleaning services, preferred limousine rates, and access to the newly upgraded MO Club Lounge. Located on the 24th floor and above, MO Club rooms and suites boast commanding views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline, including the iconic Petronas Twin Towers located just nearby the hotel.

The beautifully transformed MO Club Lounge (feature photo, above) now features a marvellous 270-degree panorama, providing a serene space for relaxation and socialising. Guests can savour daily continental breakfasts with à la minute hot dishes, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails. For business needs, state-of-the-art meeting rooms offer an ideal setting for private discussions and gatherings.

“We are delighted to unveil our refreshed MO Club offering, reflecting our commitment to world-class hospitality and exceptional experiences,” said Martin Schnider, General Manager. “This transformation ensures that our guests experience exceptional service and seamless convenience, allowing us to turn our guests into fans of Mandarin Oriental.”

Discover more about the enhanced MO Club at mandarinoriental.com or call +60 (3) 2330 8888.

BONJOUR! MALAYSIA AIRLINES RETURNS TO PARIS

Oneworld alliance member Malaysia Airlines has recommenced service to Paris as its second destination in Europe following London Heathrow. Flight MH22 departed from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 at 2345 local time on March 22, 2025 and arrived in Paris (CDG) at 0640 local time the following morning.

Paris represents Malaysia Airlines’ 68th destination, and the carrier hopes the resumption of flights to the French capital will help reinforce its “position as the gateway to Asia and beyond.”

Malaysia Airlines initially began operating four weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Paris, but quickly increased to daily flights with effect from March 29. The inaugural flights to and from Paris reached load factors of 95% and 98%, respectively, underscoring the strong demand for travel between Malaysia and France, the airline said.

The flag carrier has deployed its flagship Airbus A350-900 aircraft on the Paris service, offering business suite, business class (pictured), and economy class. The business suite is the airline’s former first class product in a 1-2-1 configuration with privacy doors.

Out of Paris, Malaysia Airlines is codesharing on four American Airlines routes – New York (JFK), Dallas (DFW), Miami (MIA), and Orlando (ORD).

“The launch of our direct service to Paris marks a significant milestone for Malaysia Airlines as we expand our European footprint and reconnect Malaysia with one of the world’s most iconic destinations.

“This route not only strengthens our position as the gateway to Asia and beyond but also reflects the growing demand for seamless travel between Malaysia and France,” said Dersenish Aresandiran, chief commercial officer of airlines at MAG.

In mid-March, Malaysia Airlines parent MAG confirmed a new aircraft order with U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing for 30 additional 737 Max family aircraft, including 12 larger 737 Max 10 aircraft with lie-flat seats in business class.

For details and bookings, visit malaysiaairlines.com.

UNITED AIRLINES TO ADD BANGKOK, ADELAIDE, AND HO CHI MINH CITY ROUTES

United Airlines will launch service to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), with new daily flights from its San Francisco hub via Hong Kong, planned to start this autumn. Both new routes are set to launch on October 26 with United’s three-class Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

Starting December 11, United will launch the first nonstop flights between the U.S. and Adelaide, Australia. With the addition of this three times weekly seasonal service from San Francisco, United says it is now the leading carrier to Australia from the continental U.S., also offering flights to Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne. The Adelaide service will also be on the carrier’s 787-9 fleet.

In addition, the Star Alliance member is also adding a second daily flight between San Francisco and Manila from October 25. United is the only U.S. airline to serve the Philippines, with service to both Manila and Cebu (via Tokyo). Both services to Manila will be on United’s 777-300ER aircraft, the airline’s largest aircraft.

With these new routes, United will now offer flights from the U.S. to 32 different cities in the Pacific region – four times that of any other U.S. carrier.

For more information, visit united.com.

CATHAY PACIFIC DEBUTS ARIA SUITE ON SYDNEY ROUTE

Cathay Pacific’s all-new business class cabin, The Aria Suite, is now flying on select services between the airline’s Hong Kong hub and Sydney. At this time, Sydney is the only city in Australia – and just the second long-haul route in the world following London Heathrow – where passengers can experience this new cabin.

Cathay hopes that the Aria Suite will redefine premium air travel, offering privacy doors, wireless charging, and 24-inch 4K entertainment screens – the largest ever seen on Cathay Pacific. The reconfigured Boeing 777-300ER aircraft boasting the Aria Suite also feature the new Cathay Pacific premium economy product.

The business cabin is still split into two, with the reconfigured 777-300ERs fitted with 45 suites configured in a 1-2-1 layout. The bulkheads are adorned with fabric walls and black wooden slatted sections break up the galleys – there are nature-inspired artworks in the front galley, acting as an art gallery.

Meanwhile, premium economy passengers will enjoy enhanced privacy, 15.6-inch 4K screens with Bluetooth connectivity, and access to dedicated lavatories.

Cathay Pacific and low-cost HK Express are expecting to expand to 100 destinations globally in 2025.

To learn more, visit cathaypacific.com.