LONDON: Malaysia Airlines has been urged to use London as a pick-up point for Scandinavian tourists to fly to Malaysia.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said those from Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen would be able to get their connection flights to Kuala Lumpur in London.

“There are now no direct flights from these cities to Malaysia.

“Scandinavian travellers have to fly to Bangkok or Singapore before catching a flight to Malaysia,” she told Malaysian journalists after launching MAS’ new Golden Lounge at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal Four yesterday.

Dr Ng said she received positive response about the “London connection” from tour operators during a week-long tourism mission to three Scandinavian countries.

Yesterday’s ceremony also marked the launch of MAS operations in the £810mil (RM4.53bil) newly refurbished terminal. MAS had operated for 35 years from Terminal Three until Oct 29.

Charming guests: Dr Ng interacting with the audience after the presentation of ‘Malaysia Truly Asia’ in Copenhagen on Friday. — Bernama

MAS flight MH3 carrying 317 passengers was given a symbolic send-off when it left for Kuala Lumpur at 10.50am.

Among those present were MAS chairman Tan Sri Dr Munir Majid, deputy chairman Datuk N. Sadasivan, MAS regional manager for UK & Ireland Syed Abdillah Syed Aziz and Tourism Malaysia director (UK & Ireland) Abdul Rauf Abu Hassan.

The launch of the new lounge heralds a new era of exclusive comfort for the airline’s first and business class passengers as well as its Enrich platinum and gold members.

Built on the theme “Echoes of Paradise,” the lounge’s design reflected a rimbun or foliage concept, bringing together the elements of wood, stone and water to create a soothing ambience for guests.

MAS operates 11 golden lounges worldwide within and beyond Malaysia including in Los Angeles, Melbourne, Perth, Singapore and Sydney.

Dr Ng described the lounge as an outlet to showcase Malaysian hospitality, an innate quality that was true of all Malaysians to customers worldwide.

She lauded MAS’ commitment to provide five-star services, convenience and facilities to its customers worldwide and carving the reputation of high standards for Malaysia internationally.

The airline is the fourth after Etihad Airways, Jet Airways and Gulf Air to shift to the terminal, which handles more than 17 million passengers annually.

A total of 43 airlines are expected to operate from the terminal by end of next year.

Dr Ng also said that Malaysia would take part in the Chelsea Flower Show next year to showcase the country’s tropical flora and fauna at one of the world’s biggest flower exhibitions.

In Copenhagen earlier, she said the My Malaysia Second Home (MM2H) was the best value-for-money product to promote.

“Homestays would be promoted as a healthy, family-oriented and education enriching programme for all groups of Danish tourists including children,” she said.

At the “Malaysia Truly Asia” presentation and dinner for 30 key Danish tourism players on Friday night, Dr Ng also took to the floor to teach the Danish guests the “Cuti-cuti 1Malaysia” dance which combined various traditional ethnic dances.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/11/8/nation/5069812&sec=nation

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