MALAYSIA AIRLINES: Flying to Paris from March 2025

Non-stop 14-hour flights between Kuala Lumpur and Paris are set to start on 22 March 2025 on a Malaysian Airlines A350.

Returning to the route after nearly a decade, this will be the only direct route between the Malaysian and French capitals that runs daily.

Initially, Malaysia Airlines will run the route four times per week on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, with the daily service commencing a week later on Friday 29 March.

• MH21 departs Kuala Lumpur 11:40 pm arrives Paris 6:40 am +1 day
• MH20 departs Paris 11:25 am, arrives Kuala Lumpur at 6:10 am +1 day

Malaysia Airlines already runs a twice-daily route to London, United Kingdom. This Paris route represents a further foray into Europe, with other destinations under discussion.

“Our expansion into Europe marks a significant milestone for Malaysia Airlines. With the arrival of additional widebody aircraft starting this Quarter 4, we are ready to bring this long-awaited city back into our network. While the European market is highly competitive, we see tremendous potential for this route to attract key travellers, not just from Malaysia but also from neighbouring regions.”

Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, Group Managing Director of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG)

Pricing

If you book direct with Malaysia Airlines, say from Sydney to Paris, with a roughly 4-hour transit in Kuala Lumpur, a Business Class fare will set you back AU$10,300 for April 2025 trips. In Economy, AU$2,000 should cover it.

Those prices are at the premium end and are roughly equivalent to what Singapore Airlines would charge. You can do better with fares for a one-stop route, while not compromising on quality. Cathay Pacific would save you AU$1,000. Willing to travel with Vietnam Airlines, and you could save AU$3,000.

The A350 on Malaysian Airlines

Although the first leg of your journey between Australia and Kuala Lumpur is likely to be on an A330. The long leg between Kuala Lumpur and Paris will be on an Airbus A350-900. It sports a former First Class cabin, now marketed as Business Suites (4 seats), plus a regular 35-seat Business Class cabin in a 1-2-1 configuration

Economy has two cabins, one with 27 seats with extra legroom (36″) in a 3-3-3 configuration. The rest of the Economy cabin has 220 seats with 32″ pitch. Seats are 18″ wide.

2PAXfly Takeout

Malaysia Airlines is apparently looking at additional European destinations. Madrid and Milan are on the list.

The Airbus A350s are scheduled for a seat upgrade, with doored suites in Business Class. Installation is set to begin in 2026.

I think the current pricing will reduce over time, given the competition from other Asian-based airlines on the route. Currently, the Malaysia Airlines cabin product does not compete favourably with the likes of Cathay and Singapore. But that upgrade to doored suites in 2026 could make them more competitive.

I have round Malaysia Airlines a mixed bag over the last few years. The hard product is adequate, but not top-notch, and service depends is good, but depends on the crew.

This is great news, and demonstrates the growth intention of the Airline, especially since its most recent news was cutting flight frequencies both domestically and internationally to deal with supply chain issues.

It also indicates a return to health for the airline after a horror decade ranging from aircraft being shot down, to financial difficulties, and of course the pandemic.

I hope this new Paris route is indicative of a return to financial health, and confident leadership.