MALINDO AIRWAYS Airlines

  About Malindo Air

Malindo Air or Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd is the hybrid-full service carrier that is based out of Malaysia and is owned by Indonesian group, Lion Air. The headquarters is located in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. The name Malindo came into existence to express coagulation between 'Mal' of Malaysia and 'Indo' of Indonesia. It is basically a corporate pact that has been signed between the two countries. The airline operates from Kuala Lumpur International Airport as well as Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, located in Subang, Selangor.

Currently, the carrier has a fleet including Boeing 737-900ER, ATR72-600 and 737-800 aircraft that operate for international and domestic destinations. Malindo Air's operations commenced in 2013 with Lion Air's president Mr Chandran Rama Murthy as the CEO of the airline. Inauguration of the airline took place in Kuala Lumpur from where the first Malindo Air flight took off. Since then, the airlines have seen tremendous expansions with the airline connecting to regional destinations of Southeast Asia, including India, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia.

The same year, Malindo Air also started its operations in Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport with ATR72-600 as the first aircraft to take off. Malindo Air has been operating a slew of scheduled passenger services catering to cities in Malaysia and reaching other domestic routes such as Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Thailand and Australia, to name a few. Malindo Air offers a plethora of in-flight services and baggage allowance to make the passenger's experience comfortable.

Fleet size of Malindo Air

As a young airline which has recently seen a tremendous demand and passenger traffic, Malindo Air's fleet consists of 38 aircraft that include ATR 72-600, Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737-900ER. There are about 800 flights that are operated by Malindo Air. Malindo Air has signed codeshare agreements with two airlines, namely Batik Air and Turkish Airlines. A codeshare agreement is basically a business understanding within the aviation industry where two or more airlines combine to use and market the same brand name of the airlines. They are allowed to use the flights of the other airlines as part of their own. Along with this, Malindo Air also has interline agreements, which is a voluntary agreement between airlines to accommodate passengers travelling on itineraries. All Nippon Airways, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, XiamenAir, Etihad Airways, Pakistan International Airlines and Turkish Airlines have interline agreements with Malindo Air.

Baggage Allowance

Cabin baggage

Business-class - The first class and business class passengers get extra perks of carrying two pieces of luggage along with a laptop bag or a handbag. This means you can carry a total of three baggage along with you in the cabin. The main cabin bag should not go beyond 56 x 36 x 23 cm while it shouldn't weigh more than 10kg.

Economy class - With respect to cabin luggage, the airline is quite strict about the weight and dimensions of the baggage allowed in-flight. For economy class, the passenger is allowed to carry one bag of cabin luggage along with a laptop bag or a handbag. However, you will need to make sure that the dimension of the bag doesn't exceed 56 x 36 x 23 cm and not weigh beyond 7kg.

Checked baggage

Domestic and international flights (Boeing and ATR) - Maximum baggage allowance in Malindo Air weighs about 32 kg. Business class though allows 40 kg on Boeing aircraft. In case you have extra baggage that needs to be accommodated, you will need to pay an extra fee for the same. Baggage allowance of the same weight is followed by codeshare flights of Malindo Air.

Non-standard baggage

Aside from the regular baggage that passengers carry for their journey, some non-standard baggage is also accommodated by Malindo Air. These include perishable goods such as frozen meat and seafood that must be preserved in a way that follows the airline's standards. Passengers flying with sports equipment are also allowed to carry them, as long as they fall under the protocols set by the airline. You will have to peruse through the official website of Malindo Air to get more clarity on the same. Sporting equipment could include bicycle, bowling ball, surfboard, golf bag and more. Baby strollers are also allowed in free of cost as part of the overall baggage.

Wheelchairs are also inclusive of this deal but need to be tagged at the check-in counter. It is essential that you follow the protocols with respect to wheelchairs if you need the equipment to be accepted by the airline. Electronic and electrical items are prohibited as they would interfere with the aircraft's navigational system. However, there are some exceptions that you can carry along with you.

Musical instruments that are small can be carried along with the passenger. However, if they are huge and bulky, they would require the 'limited release tag' along with a fragile label to ensure the item doesn't get damaged. Along with this medical equipment and supplies such as syringes and other injectable medication would require a certificate.

In-flight services

Business class - The first class and business class in-flight services provided by Malindo Air are quite lavish. The seats are recliner made of full-leather and offer 45 inches of legroom. The spaciousness of the business class seats teamed with power supply sockets for gadgets makes it convenient for passengers. The passengers also receive a personalised check-in lounge access at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Besides, this, Malindo Air's in-flight services also include entertainment decks to keep the passengers amused. A personal tablet of 11.1 inches has several TV shows, movies and games to entertain the passenger. The food is also specially catered to satiate the taste buds. In case you have some special dietary requirements and need alterations in your meal, you can inform the airlines beforehand. They will get you what you need. The aircraft's business class also has WiFi connectivity to make sure that professionals can continue with their work without having to take a break.

Economy class - The economy class has limited in-flight services in Malindo Air. However, comfort and great hospitality are still top-notch. The reclining seats in the economy class have seat pitches of 32 inch, as opposed to the 45-inch one that is available in the business class. Although the legroom is not as spacious as one would find in the business class, it is quite decent and worth the money. Along with good recliner seats, the airline also has in-flight entertainment services. These include all the latest Hollywood movies, TV shows and even games. Plus, they are available right on the seat and are personalised, which make it easier for the passenger. Depending on the duration of the flight, you will need to book for a meal in advance. It would be better to mention any dietary restrictions to the airlines in advance to avoid any last-minute concerns and discomfort with respect to food.

Popular routes and top cities for Malindo Air

Malindo Air is quite in demand with flight operations of over 800 flights in a week that takes about 57 domestic and international routes in Malaysia as well as the continents of Asia and Australia. There are many popular routes and cities that the airline operates. These include Bangkok, Colombo, Delhi, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Langkawi, Lahore, Perth, Trichy, Wuhan, Trivandrum and Yangon. With regular flight connectivity to these destinations, it becomes a favourable airline to choose for passengers. Much recently, Malindo Air also acquired services to newer destinations. These cities include Melbourne, Phnom Penh, Bangalore, Brisbane, Bali, Batam and Kota Kinabalu. Much of the popular routes chosen by Malindo Air include South Asian cities such as Bangkok, Hong Kong, Delhi, Mumbai, Langkawi and more.

Why travel by Malindo Air?

Malindo Air is recognised for its premium services. The business model that they follow focuses on enhancing the comfort and luxury for the passengers to have a smooth flight. Over the years, the airline has managed to reach a stature as a sought-after one, thanks to the cheap air fare and the good connectivity. For travellers who are opting for reaching destinations in the South Asian space, Malindo Air is a good airline to pick up. You can book Malindo Air flights on all travel portals as well as the official website of the airline. Further, on the same, you can find Malindo Air's flight schedule available on the site. It would be convenient for the traveller to find Malindo Air flights online as they are available and perfectly connected. Not to mention the in-flight services of Malindo Air is also quite excellent. The baggage allowance at Malindo Air along with its lengthy features of luggage is also ideal for travellers. There are many services that make the airline convenient. It also includes the easy web check-in that can be availed on the official website. Malindo Air checks off all the boxes for being one of the most affordable international airlines. Hence, it should definitely be considered.