KUALA LUMPUR: MAB Kargo Sdn Bhd (MASkargo) has resumed its cargo business to Amsterdam with more than 50 tonnes of general cargo and medical equipment.
After a four-year hiatus, MASkargo's flight MH6162, an A330 freighter, landed at the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport at about 10:00hrs local time on Tuesday after a scheduled refuelling stop in Dubai.
MH6126 departed Kuala Lumpur for Amsterdam on Monday at 23:00hrs local time and the return flight MH6127 departed Amsterdam on Tuesday at 23:00hrs local time.
MASkargo chief executive officer Ibrahim Mohamed Salleh said the last time Amsterdam Schiphol Airport had seen the "Wau" tailfin was in January 2016 after a 35-year history of operations by Malaysia Airlines.
"Today MASkargo has brought the "Wau" back to Schiphol and it was greeted with so much warmth. It is definitely good to be returning to Schiphol," he said in a statement on Tuesday.
He said MASKargo had planned for weekly flights in May, apart from providing long-haul connectivity supporting its network and passenger-to-cargo (P2C) flights, allowing customers better access to the European market.
"The decision to operate this route ourselves involves a lot of work but the MASkargo and Malaysia Airlines teams have made it happen in a very short time.
"We also have a great team in Amsterdam led by our Europe regional sales manager C. J. "Keesjan" de Vries, who coordinated matters there in making it possible," he added.
MASkargo chief commercial officer Mark Jason Thomas said innovation and being unconventional is the key to adapt to the drastic changes in the business environment, amid uncertain market.
"The P2C flights, including utilising the A380, is a demonstration of what we are and capable of doing. We will continue with implementing innovative ideas to ensure our customers' needs are fulfilled," he added.