Malaysia Airlines limits luggage allowance on some flights for ‘safety reasons’, baffling analysts

Malaysia Airlines on Tuesday announced immediate restrictions on check-in luggage for some Europe-bound flights, citing strong headwinds, a move that left aviation analysts puzzled.

In a statement on its website, the carrier said “unseasonably strong headwinds” were limiting the amount of baggage its flights could handle.

“This longer flight path consumes more jet fuel and for safety reasons, Malaysia Airlines has had to impose temporary limitation on checked-in baggage allowance,” it said.

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“Passengers who wish to check in their luggage will be able to do so, however their baggage will only arrive later.”

The airline advised economy passengers only to carry 7kg of hand luggage and first-class and business-class customers to limit themselves to 14kg of hand luggage.

Aviation analysts said they were baffled by the move.

“It’s highly unusual and bizarre but that’s what we’ve got used to from Malaysia Airlines. By their reasoning all other carriers in Southeast Asia heading to Europe would not be able to check in luggage, too, if indeed what they claim is true,” Shukor Yusof, analyst with Malaysia-based Endau Analytics said. “I’ve never heard anything more ludicrous in my 20 years in the industry.”