MAG to double meal capacity with new catering hub by 2029

Malaysian News--SEPANG: Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) will expand its new catering facility by 2029, doubling its meal preparation capacity and positioning itself among the largest providers in Asia.

MAG chief operations officer Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar said the new Malaysia Airlines Culinary Services (MAGCS) complex is currently in development and expected to be completed following regulatory approval in 2026.

He said that the facility would not only meet the demands of Malaysia Airlines' network but also be capable of serving other carriers.

"At present, our capacity is about 26,000 meals per day, which remains insufficient to fully support Malaysia Airlines' operations.

"With the expansion, capacity is expected to rise to 50,000 meals daily, providing surplus to serve other airline partners," he told reporters during a visit to the Malaysia Aviation Group Airlines 101 programme here today.

Nasaruddin said the facility, which began as MAG Catering Operations (MCAT) in September 2023 before transitioning to MAGCS, is now in the planning stage, with completion targeted for 2029.

The new facility, he added, would close the current capacity gap while supporting Malaysia Airlines and Firefly flights, in addition to catering for foreign carriers.

"Currently, our catering operations only cover Malaysia Airlines, but they are still inadequate. With the new facility, we will be able to cater to the entire Malaysia Airlines network while providing surplus capacity to other airlines. The facility will also feature state-of-the-art catering technology," he said.

The expansion follows MAG's termination of its partnership with Brahim's last year, after which it took catering operations in-house.

"It took us a month to stabilise operations, during which MAG made significant investments, including the purchase of high-lift trucks and other equipment. Within that month, we achieved full recovery," he said.

He also said that investment in technology remained central to MAG's transformation agenda through to 2030.

"Partnerships with leading technology players will enable MAG to reach wider customer bases and unlock new revenue streams. The group's current focus is on two priorities — strengthening revenue streams and improving overall operational efficiency," he said.