Exclusive: Inside Malaysia Airlines’ Plan to Get Back in the Global Top 10

Malaysia Airlines’ turnaround is marked by rapid route expansion, targeted partnerships, and an unapologetic return to premium. The flag carrier is working at speed to shake off historical missteps, with a range of projects designed to restore the brand.

In an exclusive interview with Skift, Dersenish Aresandiran, the chief commercial officer of airlines for Malaysia Aviation Group, explained what this “commercial elevation journey” means in practice.

“In just 25 months, we’ve launched nine new routes, ramped up branding efforts across Australia, South Asia, and Europe, and laid the groundwork to bring Malaysia Airlines back into the world’s top 10 carriers by 2030," he said.

The vision of group managing director, Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, focuses on three key areas: network expansion, brand rejuvenation, and elevating customer experience. The early indicators suggest it’s working.

“We saw double-digit passenger growth