Malaysia Airlines seeks code-share pact

Malaysia Airlines is in talks with an Indian carrier for a potential partnership to increase its reach in the world's third-largest aviation market, a top company official said, even as he lauded New Delhi's decision of not giving any more flying rights to foreign carriers to boost its own players.

"I applaud [Indian government's move to restrict any increase in foreign flying rights]. And whatever the Indian government is doing is good for the aviation companies in India," Izham Ismail, group managing director, Malaysia Aviation Group, told Mint in an interview.

This makes Ismail the first and only foreign airline boss to have spoken in favour of the Indian government's stance to not increase foreign flying rights, or bilateral rights, with countries that are aviation hubs with a strong airline. A list of such countries includes Dubai, Qatar, Singapore, and Turkey.