Malaysia Airlines returns to Schiphol with cargo flights

Malaysia Airlines’ has returned to Schiphol for the first time since 2016, with its cargo arm announcing weekly freighter calls in May.

The first call of the new service took place earlier today when an A330F freighter landed at the Dutch Airport carrying more than 50 tonnes of general cargo and medical equipment.

MASKargo chief executive Ibrahim Mohamed Salleh said the airline is planning to make weekly calls at the airport in May.

“Apart from providing long-haul connectivity supporting our network and passenger-to-cargo (P2C) flights, it also allows our customers better access to the European market.

“The decision to operate this route ourselves involves a lot of work but the MASkargo and Malaysia Airlines teams has made it  happen in a very short time.

MASkargo chief commercial officer, Mark Jason Thomas, added: “With the market being uncertain, innovation and being unconventional is the key to adapt to the drastic changes in the business environment. The P2C flights, including utilising the A380, is a demonstration of what we are and capable of doing. We will continue with implementing innovative ideas to ensure our customers’ needs are fulfilled.”

Before 2016, the airline had been flying to the airport for 35 years. However, it went through several restructurings over recent years as the company struggled to compete with low-cost carriers. Then in 2014 tragedy struck with the loss of flight 370 and then flight 17, the latter of which took off from Schiphol airport and was shot down over eastern Ukraine.