Malaysia Airlines is the international airline of Malaysia. It also serves many domestic destinations.

Malaysia Airlines began in 1947, as Malayan Airways. This was later renamed Malaysian Airways following the creation of the Federation of Malaysia, but following Singapore's independence, it was renamed Malaysian Singapore Airlines (MSA) in 1966. Six years later, MSA ceased operations, with the formation in Malaysian Airline System (MAS) and Singapore Airlines, which, separately, are two of the leading Asian air carriers.

MAS flies to numerous destinations in Asia, Australasia, the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa and South America. It was the first airline in Southeast Asia to fly to Johannesburg in South Africa, following the demise of apartheid.

On December 4 of 1977 one of their 737s exploded over the Straits of Johor, killing all 100 passengers.

In 1995, a smaller, Fokker F50 plane used by the airline to fly from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau crashed, 34 of the 53 people on board dying. Those two times have been so far the only times Malaysia Airlines suffered a major accident.

Malaysia Airlines currently uses Boeing 747, Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 equipment for its long international routes, while the Boeing 737 is often used for shorter international destination, and always used for domestic flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the airline's headquarters. Malaysia Airlines has recently signed a deal for 6 Airbus 380s.

In spite of the fact that it faced enormous financial difficulties after horrendous mismanagement by tycoon Tajudin Ramli requiring the government to renationalise the airline, quality has consistently been excellent and it is considered to be one of the very best airlines in the world, rated 4th in the world and winning the Best Cabin Crew Award several times. Female flight attendants are famous for their baju kebaya uniforms. First class passengers enjoy fine Malaysian cuisine with the other classes being served food that is surprisingly edible by airline food standards. It is one of the few airlines that provides personal LCD monitors for inflight entertainment even in Economy class. It has been rated as a four-star airline by Skytrax.

Other facts of interest

  • Malaysia Airlines is the only Asian airline to offer services to Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires.
  • Malaysia Airlines' headquarters are located straight ahead from one of the runways at Bangkok's international airport.
  • Malaysia Airlines' cabin crew were scandalized by the production of a pornographic movie featuring actors and actresses who were formerly employed by MAS. This movie featured a scene from the interior of a MAS flight, leading some viewers to think that the movie was in some way endorsed by MAS. After numerous occasions of sexual harassment, MAS issued a vehement statement that cabin crew were NOT to be touched as not all of them are sluts.