AMAL by Malaysia Airlines Resumes Flight Operations to Jeddah and Madinah for Fully Vaccinated Umrah Pilgrims

KLIA, 30 October 2021: AMAL, the pilgrimage arm of Malaysia Airlines, today resumes itsfirst flight to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) via MH8216 bound to Madinah after an almost two-year hiatus since its last operating flight on 7 March 2020.

The recommencement of scheduled flights to Jeddah and Madinah comes after the reopening of KSA borders for fully vaccinated international travellers, especially those seeking to perform religious obligations such as Umrah and Hajj.

From 30 November 2021, AMAL will be operating eight (8) times a week from Kuala Lumpur to Jeddah and Madinah.

A small send-off ceremony was held at the boarding lounge, KL International Airport and graced by Minister at the Prime Minister's Department - Religious Affairs, YB Senator Tuan Haji Idris bin Haji Ahmad, alongside Group Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), Captain Izham Ismail and Chief Operating Officer of AMAL, Muhammad Najmi Mansor.

Muhammad Najmi Mansor of AMAL said, “Today truly marks a special day for us, as we send off the first flight to Madinah since the closure of KSA borders to international travellers more than 20 months ago. This has been a long time coming and we are delighted to resume flight operations and connectivity to the Holy Land.

The demand to perform Umrah is there, as we can see from today’s flight operating at almost 100% load factor, and we foresee that the demand will continue to rise. By May 2022, we are looking to accommodate up to 75,000 passengers, but this will depend on the current scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic, which we must continuously monitor.

As the world’s first dedicated pilgrimage airline service, AMAL upholds our utmost commitment to providing the best of Malaysian Hospitality to all our guests embarking on this truly special spiritual journey. Our dedicated crew will be on hand to make this a fulfilling occasion, uncompromised on quality and prioritising safety to ensure an unforgettable experience for all. Travellers can rest assured safety and health protocols are in place, and they can fly confidently with us.”

AMAL by Malaysia Airlines is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MAG and commenced its first service in October 2018. AMAL’s unique selling proposition offers scheduled and charter services to Jeddah and Madinah from Kuala Lumpur onboard its Airbus A330 aircraft, with dedicated in-flight features such as Talbiyah, Doa Musafir, Azan on board, Tazkirah on board, Miqat announcement as well as specialised amenity kits.