KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – As other airlines scale back or cancel flights due to tightening fuel supply, flag carrier Malaysia Airlines is expanding its network, adding routes to two cities in China and reviving direct flights to Fukuoka, Japan.

The Malaysia Airlines Group (MAG) announced on Friday, April 3, that it will launch new services between Kuala Lumpur and Shenzhen and Changsha from July to September 2026.

MAG president and chief executive officer Nasaruddin Bakar said in a press conference on Friday that the “market is very fluid” due to the Middle East conflict, but finds this “crisis an opportunity” to expand.

Bakar said the MAG has locked in about 36% of its fuel needs for the year and aims to raise this to 50% by the second quarter.

“Fuel prices are highly volatile, but we are ready. We are prepared to ensure that our products and assets continue to operate,” Bakar said at a separate press conference on Thursday, April 2.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said oil-producing Malaysia has enough supply but warned worse effects of the Middle East conflict could be felt if it drags on for another one to two months.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have cancelled select flights due to the Middle East crisis. Both airlines, however, said that they have enough supply until June 2026.

MAG also purchased 10 A330neos and 14 Boeing 737-8s as new additions to its fleet.

China routes expansion

Despite the ongoing conflict, MAG said travel demand remains strong, particularly from China and India.

Malaysia Airlines continues to expand its footprint in China, with existing routes to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, and Chengdu Tianfu. The airline also operates direct flights to Hong Kong and Taipei.

China is the second-largest source of international visitors to Malaysia in 2025, with over 4.66 million arrivals, based on data from the Malaysia Tourism Promotions Board. It trails neighboring Singapore, which recorded more than 21 million arrivals.

In July 2025, Malaysia and China had a visa exemption agreement. Early this year, 2025, the Philippines started providing visa-free entry to Chinese nationals for up to 14 days.

In the Philippines, Chinese nationals accounted for only 3.66% of foreign visitors in 2025, or 237,101 arrivals, marking a significant decline from the previous year, data from the Department of Tourism showed. The drop follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2024 ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs). Philippines-China relations have also turned sour under the Marcos administration due to conflicts in the West Philippine Sea.

Chinese nationals are also investing in properties in Malaysia through the country’s My Second Home program, Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing reported in February, accounting for the largest share of foreign property buyers.

One of China’s go-to destinations has been its neighbor Japan, but the latter has seen a significant decline in Chinese tourists amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries, The Japan Times reported. Late in 2025, the Chinese government had ordered travel agencies to reduce group tours to Japan. – Rappler.com