PETALING JAYA: Plane and bus ticket bookings are picking up as Malaysia prepares to welcome international visitors once borders reopen on Friday.

       National carrier Malaysia Airlines said it has seen about a 70% increase in daily average bookings compared to last month.

       The Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), the parent company of Malaysia Airlines, is also looking to increase its capacity by year-end.

       It added that it is looking to achieve approximately 70% of its pre-pandemic capacity by the end of this year.

       AirAsia Malaysia said it has also increased capacity for international flights in anticipation of the reopening of borders.

       “(We have) over a 600% increase in international flight capacity compared to January 2022,” a spokesman told The Star, adding that Phuket, Manila, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore and Bali were among the top international routes that have garnered bookings.

       AirAsia is also adding three new international routes, namely Penang-Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur-Hat Yai from April 13, and Johor Baru-Bangkok from May 3.

       Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd (MAHB), which operates the country’s commercial airports, said it has been continuously working with the authorities to improve the flow at airports, especially for arrivals.In doing so, it said passenger feedback over the last few months has also been taken into consideration to create a smooth experience.

       MAHB managing director Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood said there is a need to ensure that visitors have a good impression of the country the moment they step foot on Malaysian soil, and that this first impression will be formed at the airport.

       “The efficiency of safety protocols at the airport is a key focus area because it plays a major role in ensuring a pleasant passenger processing experience.

       “Most passengers would not have travelled by air since the pandemic started, and therefore, may be unfamiliar with the additional steps now required at the airport,” he said in a statement.

       Thus, the Covid Protocol portal, an initiative launched recently by the Health Ministry, will be a great help in facilitating the arrival process as passengers can now get updated information from a single source, said Iskandar.

       To prepare for the border reopening, MAHB said it will be deploying more ground staff as well as installing more signs and seats across terminals, among other measures.

       Pan Malaysia Bus Operators Association president Datuk Mohamad Ashfar Ali said that while bus ticket sales have yet to match the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, sales have improved compared with the past two years.

       “People are still cautious about travelling by bus, although it has been encouraged by the government,” he said, adding that he also expects ticket sales to Singapore to increase once clearer guidelines have been issued by the country on cross-border express buses.

       He said Singaporean authorities have yet to announce details concerning express buses from Malaysia, so some bus operators haven’t started offering tickets to the island republic.