Malaysia Airlines Berhad has announced that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council.

Under the terms of the deal, Malaysia Airlines will be positioned as MHTC’s preferred healthcare tourism airline with both parties jointly exploring marketing activities to position Malaysia as the premier healthcare destination regionally and globally.

As the official airline, Malaysia Airlines will support MHTC with sponsored tickets for familiarisation trips to Malaysia.

This will also be supplemented with discounted rates for guests traveling to Malaysia for medical tourism purposes.

The offer begins today and is valid for a period of one year.

The deal was signed by Paul Simmons, chief commercial officer of Malaysia Airlines and Sherene Azli, chief executive of MHTC and witnessed by the Malaysia minister of health Datuk Subramaniam.

Simmons said: “Malaysia Airlines is delighted to be partnering Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council for this important market segment.

“As the country’s national airline, we are fully supportive of the country as the leading destination for medical tourism.

“Guests who choose Malaysia for health tourism will have the opportunity to benefit from the internationally accredited medical facilities as well as the beauty and tranquillity of Malaysia to recuperate in.

“Our comprehensive network within the country is the perfect complement to this, as the best way to fly to, from and around Malaysia”.

The signing took place during the Malaysia Healthcare Media Week, which was organised by the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council, an agency under the ministry of health Malaysia.

The MHMW is used as a platform to further strengthen and grow the Malaysia Healthcare brand positioning among the local and international media.