Malaysia Airlines adds Maastricht Aachen Airport to network

Malaysia Airlines (MH) has added Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) to its network with plans to operate a scheduled weekly cargo service to the Dutch cargo airport using an Airbus A330-200 freighter operated by its cargo arm MASkargo.

The first inbound flight is set to arrive from Kuala Lumpur in early April and will make MST only the second airport in Europe that MH flies to after Schiphol Amsterdam Airport (AMS).

“This is an important opportunity for MST, as since Royal Schiphol Group (RSG) invested in 40 per cent of the airport last year, we have seen our operations consistently growing,” said Jonas Van Stekelenburg, MST chief executive.

“Our new runway and close partnership with AMS are among the many reasons we can offer MH a great option to fly inbound and outbound cargo to and from.

“Our location, high performing team, and efficiency are widely known to attract cargo flights, but being part of RSG is accelerating our growth and popularity within Europe as a top cargo destination.”

RSG invested a 40% stake in MST last year, with the other 60% held by the region, the province of Limburg.

Since then, both shareholders have invested €30m in the new runway, which was renewed last year, and MST are currently investing more than €40m in further upgrades to the infrastructure and hardware of the airport.

MH are the second airline to confirm business with MST this year. In January, Royal Jordanian Airlines was welcomed back after a hiatus due to the renewal of their air fleet.

MASkargo has three production A330-200Fs, each with a capacity of 61 tonnes.

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