MAG plans to launch in-flight catering hub in 2029 to double meal production capacity

SEPANG (Sept 30): Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd (MAG), the parent company of national carrier Malaysia Airlines Bhd, said on Tuesday it plans to launch its own in-flight catering hub by 2029 as part of its strategy to strengthen its aviation services business and meet future travel demand.

The new facility, to be located near to its existing facility at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), will be operated by MAG Catering Solutions (MAGCS). 

Malaysia Airlines chief operating officer Nasaruddin Bakar said the new hub is designed to nearly double production capacity to over 50,000 in-flight meals daily compared with 26,000 currently.

"MAGCS’ current production rate cannot fully provide for Malaysia Airlines and Firefly. We still rely on other catering partners. The new facility will cover the full network of Malaysia Airlines, and we expect to have surplus capacity to support other MAG airlines and even third-party carriers,” he told reporters after MAG's Annual Airline 101 Event on Tuesday.

The project is slated for completion in 2029, with further announcements to be made next year once the group secures the relevant licences from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia.

The expansion comes as MAG continues to consolidate catering operations in-house. The group established its own catering unit in September 2023 after ending a 25-year partnership with Brahim’s Food Services. Nasaruddin said MAG had invested heavily in new equipment such as high-lift trucks to restore full operations within a month of taking over.

According to a company spokesperson, the move will improve efficiency while reducing reliance on manual labour. At its peak, MAG’s catering operations involved about 400 workers, more than 80% of whom were foreign workers.

The hub is expected to feature advanced automation in food preparation, disposal, storage, packaging and transportation. 

Nasaruddin added that investing in technology remains central to MAG’s transformation agenda through 2030, noting that partnerships with global technology players will help broaden its customer base and open new revenue streams.

“The group is currently focused on two priorities — strengthening revenue flows and improving operational efficiency across the board,” Nasaruddin said.