Area manager of the Malaysian carrier in Vietnam, Terence Swampillai, said to avail the cheap fares passengers would have to book between January 31 and February 6 and fly between February 24 and September 30 2007.

For instance, a round ticket would cost US$138 on the Ho Chi Minh City-Kuala Lumpur route compared to the normal U$263, and U$458 on the Ho Chi Minh City- Perth route against U$651.

The carrier’s website said there would be discounts on flights to the US, Europe, Middle East, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the Indian sub-continent, and ASEAN countries.

First introduced in 2004, the annual Malaysia Airlines Travel Fair offers 5 million seats at low fares and value deals.

Like most other foreign airlines operating in Vietnam, Malaysia Airlines – the third largest here in terms of flight frequency after Thai Airways and Cathay Pacific Airways – expects to see 15% growth in occupancy this year, at least for flights departing from Ho Chi Minh City.
It now operates 14 flights a week from Ho Chi Minh City to Kuala Lumpur and 9 from Hanoi.

Earlier this month, other Malaysian carrier, the low-cost Air Asia, announced an offer of 1 million free seats on flights within Asia between April and October.

Source: ThanhNiên Online