Passing Through Kuala Lumpur Pt2: Traffic

Kuala Lumpur International (KLIA) is a very pleasant airport to spend time in and at the times we were there it didn't seem especially busy. This is no doubt partly due to the well documented troubles Malaysia Airlines has had recently, but is also probably due to the transfer of all low-cost traffic to KLIA2. Despite this traffic was brisk and aside from the usual Asian airlines there were also a couple of unexpected visitors.

Traffic at KLIA is dominated by Malaysia Airlines and you can easily see most of their fleet. The content of Malaysia Airlines domestic pier is somewhat enlivened by the number of different liveries on show.

Quite a lot of MH's 73Hs still wear the 1990s scheme - like 9M-MLF

The 737-800s wear five different schemes. Firstly there is the 1990s era cheatline scheme, then the updated swoosh scheme with red and blue titles, then the newer variant with blue titles only. Lastly there are two special liveries - the Oneworld titled aircraft and the 40th anniversary retro 1980s colours aircraft.

9M-MSD wearing the older blue and red titles

9M-MSG wearing the latest all blue titled Malaysia Airlines scheme

9M-MXA wearing the 40th anniversary retro-scheme

Most of Malaysia's 777s appeared to be parked on remote stands, which considering they were about to be removed from service was not a major surprise. Indeed the 777 serviced Auckland route had changed to an A330 by the time of our return. The 777s all wear the old 1990s scheme whereas the A330s all operate in the newer scheme - mostly with the latest all blue titles.

I wasn't taking registrations but looking through my photos here are the Malaysia Airlines frames I can identify as having seen. A330s seem rather under-represented as I definitely saw more than 5:

A330-300 (5 of 15): 9M-MTD, E, H, I, N
A380-800 (4 of 6): 9M-MNB, D, E, F
B737-800 (29 of 57): 9M-FFD, F, 9M-MLD, F, G, K, N, O, Q, S, 9M-MRC, 9M-MSC, D, E, G, H, 9M-MXA, B, C, D, E, I, J, R, S, T, V, W, X
B777-200ER (9 of 13): 9M-MRA, B, C, E, H, J, M, P, Q

In the few hours I spent at the airport there were visits by the expected regional Asian majors like Cathay Pacific (777-200 and A340), Singapore (777-300) and Garuda (737-800) but not others like Korean Air, Thai Airways Int or Philippines. Several of the smaller Asian carriers were represented like Sri Lankan (A320), Nepal Airlines (757), Bangkok Airways (A319) and Silk Air (A320/737-800). Of China's airlines I only saw Xiamen Airlines (737-800) and China Southern (A320).

From further afield there was the now familiar sprinkling of the ME3 - Emirates and Qatari 777-300ERs plus the more exotic Oman Air (A330), Iran Air (747SP) and Yemenia (A310). I was particularly pleased to get to see a 747SP in service again - no doubt for the last time. From what I saw it seemed very much like airlines tended to use the same satellite gates everyday.

Iran Air Boeing 747SP EP-IAC

Yemenia Airbus A310 70-ADW

MASkargo's freighters also came close to the passenger terminal on their way to the runways.

MASkargo A330-200F 9M-MUD

MASkargo Boeing 747-400F 9M-MPS

Of further interest around the field were three Air Atlanta Icelandic 747-200s now apparently effectively derelict. They were probably last used for Hajj flights by Malaysia.

Over at KLIA2 in the distance I could just about makeup rows of AirAsia A320s and AirAsia X A330s as you would expect.

With three distantly separate runways and relatively limited traffic KLIA probably isn't ideal for spotting. However KLIA2 does seem to offer a good range of special liveried AirAsia A320s if you can find vantage points within it or nearby. The original main terminal is a beautiful airport with quite an exotic feel and about 85% Malaysia Airlines usage. Still there are some interesting airlines visiting and KLIA is well worth a visit especially as KL the city has a lot to offer outside of aviation!

We departed Kuala Lumpur for London aboard Malaysia Airlines Airbus A380-800 9M-MNB as MH0004 and returned a few weeks later on MH0003 which was 9M-MNF - the 100th A380 made. Our final departure back to Auckland was aboard the Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330-300 9M-MTD.