Connections between Melbourne, Malaysia, and beyond have strengthened with the third daily flight between Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne launching this month and the airline’s brand-new A330neo fleet due on all Melbourne routes by year’s end. We caught up with Malaysia Airlines’ Chief Commercial Officer of Airlines from Malaysia Aviation Group, Dersenish Aresandiran, to unpack what these changes mean for your clients.
With 17 years in the aviation industry, Dersenish is no stranger to the literal highs of commercial airlines.
In his position as Malaysia Airlines’ Chief Commercial Officer of Airlines from MAG, Dersenish has been a strategic figurehead in expanding Malaysia’s connections in Australia.
Taking time out from his busy day, Dersenish shares what’s new and what’s to come. Read on.
What’s driving Malaysia Airlines’ expansion in Melbourne & how does it benefit agents and their clients?
“Melbourne is a fast-growing market for us, with strong demand from both business and leisure travellers. The addition of a third daily flight this August provides greater flexibility and more options, connecting Melbourne to over 70 destinations across ASEAN, South Asia, North Asia, China, the UK and Europe via Kuala Lumpur.
“For agents, this means increased availability and choice when booking for clients, while travellers enjoy a more convenient schedule tailored to their needs, whether travelling for business or leisure.”
What are the key benefits of the new A330neo on the MEL-KUL route?
“The A330neo marks a major milestone in our fleet modernisation strategy, delivering a next-generation travel experience for passengers on the Melbourne–Kuala Lumpur route.
“In Business Class, we have introduced 28 state-of-the-art seats that convert into fully flat beds with enhanced comfort features, offering travellers the perfect balance of privacy and rest. Passengers can also enjoy complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi with unlimited data, Bluetooth pairing, wireless charging and multiple power outlets, ensuring seamless connectivity throughout the journey. To top it off, our signature Chef-on-Call service brings personalised gourmet dining to the skies.
“Economy Class has also been elevated with award-winning Recaro R3 seats, ergonomically designed for comfort. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available here too, and families will appreciate the new Kids Mode and parental controls, creating a calm, child-friendly environment onboard.
“By the end of the year, every Melbourne service will feature the A330neo, offering quieter engines, advanced mood lighting, and an overall more enjoyable experience with Malaysia Airlines.”
Malaysia Airlines has made impressive progress in global airline rankings & service awards, how do they reflect Australian traveller experiences?
“We’re incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made, particularly our rise to 27th place in the World’s Top 100 Airlines, an impressive climb from 39th last year.
“We also secured the 8th spot in Skytrax’s 2025 World’s Best Cabin Crew and ranked tenth for Best Economy Class Seats. These achievements reflect our unwavering commitment to enhancing both product and service quality.
“For Melbourne passengers, this means experiencing our award-winning cabin crew and one of the world’s best economy class offerings, all part of our commitment to deliver exceptional Malaysian Hospitality on every flight.”
How does Malaysia Airlines’ recent brand growth tie into its Melbourne operations?
“Malaysia Airlines has been recognised as the world’s fastest-growing airline brand in 2025, with brand value increasing by over 200%. This momentum is underpinned by our continued investment in fleet, service, and connectivity.
“Melbourne is a cornerstone of our network expansion and brand growth strategy, which is why the increase in flight frequency and the deployment of our latest aircraft are integral to delivering that promise, both in the air and on the ground.”
Can you tell us about Malaysia Airlines’ ‘Bonus Side Trip’?
“For international travellers flying with Malaysia Airlines, our Bonus Side Trip programme offers the unique opportunity to explore one of seven Malaysian destinations – including Langkawi, Penang, Johor Bahru, Alor Setar, Kuala Terengganu or Kota Bharu – at no extra airfare costs.
“For Australian travellers, this provides greater flexibility to experience Malaysia beyond Kuala Lumpur, enriching their journey with diverse cultural experiences. It’s a rewarding way to add value, encourage tourism and showcase the very best of Malaysia.”
How do Malaysia Airlines’ recently expanded routes support Melbourne travellers specifically?
“The expansion of our global network enhances connectivity options for Melbourne passengers. New routes to destinations such as Paris, Kolkata, Da Nang, Chiang Mai, and the Maldives provide seamless connections from Melbourne via Kuala Lumpur, offering travellers more opportunities for both leisure and business travel across Asia and beyond.
“This expanded network reinforces Melbourne’s role as a vital hub in our global route map.”
There has been significant growth in Malaysia Airlines’ operations to India. What benefits does this afford passengers?
“India is a critical market for us, with 77 weekly flights linking Malaysia and India. This strong connectivity benefits travellers by providing more opportunities to fly via Kuala Lumpur to and from India’s major cities, including the recent additions of Ahmedabad, Trivandrum, and Amritsar.
“Through our codeshare partnership with IndiGo, we’ve expanded our reach from 10 to 16 destinations across India. This means travellers flying from Australia can seamlessly connect via Kuala Lumpur not only to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai, but also to popular secondary points such as Goa, Varanasi, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam, and Tiruchirappalli.
We’ve also increased frequencies to Trivandrum, making it even easier for passengers to visit friends and family, conduct business, or explore India’s rich cultural and leisure offerings.”
Tell us about your recent ‘Time For’ Australian marketing campaign
““Designed to reconnect with Australian travellers and showcase Malaysia Airlines’ renowned hospitality and service, our ‘Time For’ campaign featured an activation at Southern Cross Station. As part of the activation, Melburnians were invited to test their knowledge of Malaysia Airlines through a fun and interactive quiz, scan a giant boarding pass to unlock an exclusive contest, and boost their chances of winning by following the airline on social media.”
Finally, how do you see Malaysia Airlines’ future growth and service development in Melbourne evolving beyond 2025?
“Melbourne is a core pillar of our Asia-Pacific strategy. We will continue to invest in enhancing our product, increasing frequency where demand supports it, and elevating the overall passenger experience.
“As international travel continues to grow, we are excited to strengthen our ties with Melbourne and share world-class Malaysian Hospitality with more travellers than ever before.”
Learn more
For more information on Malaysia Airlines services from Melbourne, head to malaysiaairlines.com.
This article is brought to you by Malaysia Airlines and Melbourne Airport.
