Malaysia Airlines Bhd, the national carrier, plans to fully restore its in-flight meal services by November 15, 2023, as stated by Transport Minister Anthony Loke. The current allowance for passengers to bring their own food is a temporary measure during the transition to new catering service providers, ensuring compliance with international regulations on prohibited items.
Amid this transition, Malaysia Airlines is gradually reintroducing full meals and hot meal services on affected routes. The decision to end its long-standing catering partnership with Brahim Food Services Sdn Bhd (BFS) was announced on August 30. The airline engaged eight new food and beverage suppliers, including Pos Aviation Sdn Bhd and MAS Awana Services Sdn Bhd, to prepare its in-flight meals starting from September 1.
Comprehensive negotiations between Malaysia Airlines and BFS took place from the fourth quarter of 2022, culminating in a termination notice by BFS effective July 1, 2023. However, BFS later withdrew the notice and continued services until August 31, 2023. To manage the situation, Malaysia Airlines established MAG Catering (MCAT) operations at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) as an immediate transition to another large-scale supplier was not feasible.
As part of the contingency plan, MCAT serves as a temporary distribution center at KLIA. It manages the packaging of food and beverage items by suppliers, ensuring compliance with standards set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and certification from local health authorities regarding cleanliness, environment, food safety, and hygiene standards.
The airline is committed to providing quality food for all passengers during this transitional period, ensuring a seamless dining experience for travelers.
