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EXCLUSIVE: British Airways cancels return to Kuala Lumpur with four weeks notice

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British Airways was due to restart two routes to Asia this winter – Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.

Bangkok is going ahead, with flights starting on 28th October.

Kuala Lumpur, which was due to launch on 10th November, seems to have hit the buffers.

EDIT: Whilst a few days old, we are keeping this article pinned to the top of the home page because of the amount of discussion in the comments about BA’s ‘issues’ over rerouting passengers.

British Airways drops Kuala Lumpur flights

Earlier this afternoon the flights were showing as bookable:

British Airways drops Kuala Lumpur flights

…. but five minutes ago it changed to this:

British Airways drops Kuala Lumpur flights

No flights are available until 1st April 2025.

Cancelling a route with less than a months notice is clearly not great news for anyone. However, with oneworld partner Malaysia Airlines offering double-daily flights from Heathrow, it should be possible to get most people on a same-day alternative.

Our 2022 review of the Malaysia Airlines service in business class is here.

Qatar Airways is also likely to be an option due to BA’s joint venture agreement. In fact, it is possible that BA tries to push Qatar Airways as its preferred alternative.

Note that it will take BA a few days to hammer out a formal rebooking arrangement with Malaysian. If you call today you will be offered an indirect alternative.

Why have the flights been pulled?

British Airways told us:

We’re disappointed that we’ve had such to make further changes to our schedule as we continue to experience delays to the delivery of engines and parts from Rolls-Royce – particularly in relation to the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines fitted to our 787 aircraft.

We’ve taken this action because we do not believe the issue will be solved quickly, and we want to offer our customers the certainty they deserve for their travel plans. We’ve apologised to those affected and are able to offer the vast majority a flight the same day with British Airways or one of our partner airlines. 

We continue to work closely with Rolls-Royce to ensure the company is aware of the impact its issues are having on our schedule and customers, and seek reassurance of a prompt and reliable solution.

In terms of ‘why KL?’, competition is probably part of it. Malaysia Airlines offers a decent product on the route which also allows flyers to earn Avios and British Airways Executive Club tier points.

BA’s shortage of A380 aircraft is also likely to be a factor. As we have covered, the fleet is proving very unreliable.

Kuala Lumpur was scheduled as a daily service on a Boeing 787-9, which was a heavy commitment in terms of aircraft. Pulling what was always going to be a low yield route is a relatively low cost way of building some resilience in the schedule.

Let’s hope the 1st April 2025 date is firm.

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Category

British Airways and Avios

Comments (644)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Sharon says:
    12 Oct12 October 08:06

    Big write up in yesterdays Daily Telegraph and Times today with other routes impacted such as LGW to JFK

    • Muskysman says:
      12 Oct12 October 08:23

      Literally sitting in First Lounge at LHR trying to get through on 3rd call now . Seems rewards flights are not applicable for rerouting at this stage even having quoted UK261 .. they are still not budging . Prepared at this stage to grab J flights to SIN as other hotel costs on Malaysia already committed

      • Phatbear says:
        12 Oct12 October 08:51

        Well thats nonsense as i called them yesterday afternoon and my avios paid for flight has now been moved onto a qatar flight

      • BJ says:
        12 Oct12 October 08:58

        Just more nonsense from them, HUACA.

    • Andy says:
      12 Oct12 October 09:05

      Yeh, FT carried it yesterday in more detail… not sure what’s exclusive about this article

      • Rob says:
        12 Oct12 October 09:08

        Without wishing to state the obvious, the article says clearly that it was published within 5 minutes of the flights being pulled from ba.com yesterday afternoon.

        Everything you see across any social media platform or newspaper stems from this article which was published around 5pm yesterday. I accept there’s no time stamp on it (but it does say Friday as publication date) but if you actually read it, it is very clear.

        I’m not entirely sure what you expect us to do? Are we meant to remove the word ‘Exclusive’ as soon as some other outlet copies our story?

  • S Ling says:
    12 Oct12 October 08:23

    Called this morning 12-10-2024. LHR to KUL cancelled. The only option is a refund or being re-routed to Singapore. No options for QR. I was told maybe I could use QR if “award” seats were available.

  • Alesa says:
    12 Oct12 October 08:37

    I have a 2-1 voucher flight to KL on 28 March that has been cancelled, there is no alternative being offered and the line is not accepting any calls. I have onward flight from KL to Vietnam and hotels booked. The return flight has bot been cancelled yet but I have no faith in that now. I have no idea what to do when we can’t even talk to anyone!!

  • Paul says:
    12 Oct12 October 08:57

    I have (rather, did have) a 2-4-1 flight LHR to KL in March (in transit to Vietnam). I have to travel on the same – if I decide to keep the holiday. Given the other options for same day travel may screw up our plans, anyone know if BA would extend the 2-4-1 validity if I chose to sack having BA try to re-book me?

    • BJ says:
      12 Oct12 October 09:08

      You cannot insist on tge same day, BA just have to be reasonable and that extends to a few days. There are option though with CX abd QR so I would persist with same day for a bit. If you choose to cancel you cannit start trading with BA over indepebdent issues like voucher validity. There was a recent HFP article on new amex voucher extensions, there may be something to help you there but I don’t know as I didn’t read it having lost interest in BA and vouchers.

    • Mikeact says:
      12 Oct12 October 09:31

      I assume this is the same Paul who posted at 17.04pm

      ‘It simply reinforces for me the need to avoid BA long haul as I have done now since 2017. Overall pretty poor but typical of the carrier.’

  • Yorkshire rich says:
    12 Oct12 October 08:59

    Having booked J pretty much for the last few years, due to lack of availability in March and the need to use the companion voucher, we opted for PE on a 2-4-1 from KL to MAN via LHR.
    When I rang them up last night, they offered me singapore airlines in PE. I’ve had a look at the Singapore airlines flight to Manchester and PE is not available. I’m assuming it’s to LHR then a flight up there.
    I’ve been fairly flexible with where I’m going in SE Asia for 2 weeks but I’d rather not go to Singapore having been there a few times lately. I’ve booked the CP at the airport on points for one night as a back up.

  • Bernard says:
    12 Oct12 October 08:59

    BA have chosen to kill off KL. choosing this and no other rather implies how marginal this route is because of how many assets it needs to run it. Will be interesting to see if it ever comes back. I suspect for winter the 787s it would use will deliver better ROI on Barbados and Cape Town.

    • meta says:
      12 Oct12 October 09:54

      Some Barbados flights have also been cancelled as a result as well as one daily to New York.

  • Vic says:
    12 Oct12 October 09:01

    I called last night 11/12 , desperate to be rebooked on same dates, flying in dec LHR-KL. The offer was refund now or call back today. Given we used a 241 voucher and avios the refund will not nearly cover paid flights as alternative. Trying to hold my nerve and will call today and until the guidance is in place. Can see the MH flights that would work for our plans…. but BA can’t (yet?) book them for us.

    • Kam says:
      12 Oct12 October 09:16

      Same, on hold for an hour. If I have any luck will let you know.

      • Kam says:
        12 Oct12 October 09:44

        Was on hold for an hour (3rd try) but got through. Right now they only able to offer Heathrow to Singapore. She advised I can wait until next week if I need a KL flight, they expect to strike a deal with MA and QR (MR will be a direct flight but QR via Doha) I chose to go with Singapore but she was very helpful.
        A really big thank you to Rob and HFP commenters, I really appreciated the help you gave!

  • Gemma says:
    12 Oct12 October 09:31

    You won’t believe this . Used a Avios and 241 business class. Last night was told only refund this morning we called back on silver line and just like that booked on QR business. Happy days of so we thought. We have confirmation and tickets sent through. 10 minutes later they call us back sorry we have to cancel flights as we made a mistake!! Shouldn’t have booked these. We’ve been hanging on for a manager for ages now. I will not let them cancel!! What else can we do? Never been in this situation

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