Malaysia Airlines limits baggage allowance

AFP, KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines yesterday announced immediate restrictions on check-in luggage for some Europe-bound flights, citing strong headwinds, a move that left aviation analysts puzzled.
In a statement on its website, the carrier said "unseasonably strong headwinds" were limiting the amount of baggage its flights could handle.
"This longer flight path consumes more jet fuel and for safety reasons, Malaysia Airlines has had to impose temporary limitation on checked-in baggage allowance," it said.
"Passengers who wish to check in their luggage will be able to do so, however their baggage will only arrive later."
The airline advised economy passengers only to carry 7kg of hand luggage and first-class and business-class customers to limit themselves to 14kg of hand luggage.
Malaysia Airlines told AFP that they had no choice but to take these steps because "safety is our utmost priority" and the restrictions were "based on our risk assessment".
It said the restrictions did not apply to London-bound flights but would affect its two other European destinations, Paris and Amsterdam.
Aviation analysts said they were baffled by the move.
"It's highly unusual and bizarre but that's what we've got used to from Malaysia Airlines. By their reasoning all other carriers in Southeast Asia heading to Europe would not be able to check in luggage, too, if indeed what they claim is true," Shukor Yusof, analyst with Malaysia-based Endau Analytics, told AFP.
"I've never heard anything more ludicrous in my 20 years in the industry."
Greg Waldron, Asia managing editor at Flightglobal, described the airline's reasoning as strange.
"It doesn't make sense... and it's probably going to cause a lot of passenger frustration," he said. "There are other ways to reduce payload." The trouble-plagued company last month said it was investigating a Christmas Day mix-up that sent one of its planes flying in the wrong direction after it left Auckland.

Malaysia Airlines limits baggage allowance

AFP, KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines yesterday announced immediate restrictions on check-in luggage for some Europe-bound flights, citing strong headwinds, a move that left aviation analysts puzzled. In a statement on its website, the carrier said unseasonably strong headwinds were limiting the amount of baggage its flights could handle. This longer flight path consumes more jet fuel and for safety reasons, Malaysia Airlines has had to impose temporary limitation on checked-in baggage allowance, it said. Passengers who wish to check in their luggage will be able to do so, however their baggage will only arrive later. The airline advised economy passengers only to carry 7kg of hand luggage and first-class and business-class customers to limit themselves to 14kg of hand luggage. Malaysia Airlines told AFP that they had no choice but to take these steps because safety is our utmost priority and the restrictions were based on our risk assessment. It said the restrictions did not apply to London-bound flights but would affect its two other European destinations, Paris and Amsterdam. Aviation analysts said they were baffled by the move. Its highly unusual and bizarre but thats what weve got used to from Malaysia Airlines. By their reasoning all other carriers in Southeast Asia heading to Europe would not be able to check in luggage, too, if indeed what they claim is true, Shukor Yusof, analyst with Malaysia-based Endau Analytics, told AFP. Ive never heard anything more ludicrous in my 20 years in the industry. Greg Waldron, Asia managing editor at Flightglobal, described the airlines reasoning as strange. It doesnt make sense... and its probably going to cause a lot of passenger frustration, he said. There are other ways to reduce payload. The trouble-plagued company last month said it was investigating a Christmas Day mix-up that sent one of its planes flying in the wrong direction after it left Auckland.