Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has finalised plans to add three international routes from Kota Kinabalu effective December.

In a statement, the national carrier said it would also increase frequencies to an existing international route from the capital of Sabah.

A total of seven weekly services for these four routes will be operated using the latest 160-seater B737-800 aircraft.

Group Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said although four international routes from Kota Kinabalu were suspended in January and February, the airline has now finalised plans to introduce flights between the Kota Kinabalu and three cities in the region.

"We will announce details of this development in the near future once we have the clearance from the regulatory authorities," he was quoted as saying in the statement.

The additional routes and more flights to an existing international route are expected to improve inbound tourist arrivals to Sabah and increase Kota Kinabalu's significance as the national carrier's eastern hub of Malaysia.

Apart from MAS, its wholly-owned subsidiary, MASwings, also commenced international operations this year linking Kota Kinabalu to Brunei and also Tawau to Tarakan, Indonesia.
-- BERNAMA