Virgin-MAS partnership at an end

Virgin Australia has cast aside a frequent flyer partnership with Malaysia Airlines in favour of its alliance with Singapore Airlines.

Virgin Australia will end its frequent flyer partnership with Malaysia Airlines at the end of March in a move stemming from Virgin’s decision to form an alliance with Singapore Airlines last year.

Virgin and MAS said they would honour forward bookings made through the current partnership, but members of each carrier’s frequent flyer program will not be able to earn new points or use existing ones on the other’s services after April 1.

Virgin and Singapore Airlines launched a reciprocal frequent flyer arrangement last year and last month began codesharing, while Qantas has said it will sponsor MAS’s bid to join the oneworld airline alliance, and the Malaysian airline is expected to feature in Qantas’s Asian expansion plans.