PETALING JAYA: The reopening of the nation’s borders on April 1 is welcome news for the airline industry.

       The Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) – comprising Malaysia Airlines, MASwings and Firefly – is expecting people to start travelling very soon.

       It is hoping to reach approximately 70% of its pre-Covid capacity by the end of the year, with pent-up demand from both outbound and inbound travellers.

       “MAG will continue to work closely with the authorities to reinstate suspended flights, while increasing frequency to key markets,” said its group chief executive officer Captain Izham Ismail.

       He added that MAG also appreciated the decision to simplify the country’s standard operating procedure to ensure those entering Malaysia could do so seamlessly.

       On March 8, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Malaysia would begin transitioning to the endemic phase From April 1.

       As a part of the “Reopening Safely” plan, he added that Malaysia will reopen its borders to international travellers from April 1 as well.

       Visitors and Malaysians who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will no longer have to quarantine when they arrive.

       They must, however, undergo a RT-PCR test two days before departure and a professional rapid test (RTK-Antigen) upon arrival.