The CEO of Malaysia Airlines (MH, Kuala Lumpur International), Peter Bellew, has told Australian Business Traveller that he is considering deploying two of the airline's incoming A350-900s to Shanghai Pudong and Tokyo Narita rather than additional European routes.

"Doing another direct service to Europe doesn't work very well due to the very low fares being offered by Gulf carriers, but we're still working on it," Bellew told the site. "The only way I can see it succeeding would be to work closely with another carrier."

As previously reported, Malaysia Airlines intends to deploy its first two A350s on its Kuala Lumpur International-London Heathrow routes starting mid-January. The new aircraft, due for delivery by year-end, will replace the A380-800 aircraft currently in use, which will be redeployed to Hajj and Umrah operations. The six incoming A350s are leased from Air Lease Corporation.