Malaysia Airlines operated an all-women crewed flight, marking a historic step for gender diversity in the aviation industry. Flight MH2610, which travelled from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, was staffed entirely by women across all operational areas, including pilots, cabin crew, engineers, security, and ground services.
The airlines wrote in an X post: “With women now making up 36% of Malaysia Aviation Group’s workforce, surpassing IATA’s 25by2025 target, this milestone marks not just progress, but a powerful reminder that the sky has no limits.
To all our colleagues and future aviators, may today’s flight inspire you to dream bigger and break barriers.”
Malaysia Airlines stressed that the flight was not intended as a symbolic one-off, but as part of its wider efforts to create opportunities for women in leadership. The company said it hopes the milestone will encourage young women to pursue careers in aviation and inspire current staff to take on senior positions.
The achievement comes at a time when Malaysia’s aviation sector is showing strong signs of recovery. According to the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM), passenger traffic for 2025 is expected to reach between 105.8 million and 112.9 million, signalling renewed demand for air travel following several years of disruption.
Network Expansion and New Routes
Malaysia Airlines is now preparing to widen its international and regional footprint. In November 2025, it will introduce new flights linking Kuala Lumpur with Krabi, Siem Reap, and Cebu. The airline also confirmed plans to increase services to several major markets, including Australia, New Zealand, China, India, the Maldives, and Bangladesh from October.
By February 2026, the airline’s Adelaide–Kuala Lumpur service will increase from five to daily flights. The route will also feature the new Airbus A330neo, which offers improved passenger comfort and greater fuel efficiency.
Partnerships and Codeshares
Alongside its expansion, Malaysia Airlines has been strengthening collaborations with other carriers. A new codeshare agreement with Qantas allows Malaysia Airlines to place its ‘MH’ code on 18 domestic routes in Australia. The partnership aims to provide smoother travel connections and more choices for passengers flying between Malaysia and Australia.
