Malaysia Airlines is expanding its digital services for Chinese travellers through Huawei, to further develop flight booking, check-in and real-time travel updates through AI-powered HarmonyOS services and connected devices. The partnership will also see planned integrations with Huawei smartwatches, while it will bolster digital marketing initiatives to support the airline’s goals of a more convenient and connected travelling experience.
The collaboration was formalised via a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), parent company of Malaysia Airlines, and Huawei Services (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd., signed by Dersenish Aresandiran, Chief Commercial Officer of Airline Business at MAG, and Morgan Liu, Director of Overseas Ecosystem Development at Huawei Services (Hong Kong), as part of Malaysia Airlines’ 2026 China Trade Gala in Shanghai on September 22. It was announced on October 12, 2026.
AI-Powered HarmonyOS Services to Make it Easier to Book Flights
The initial focus of the cooperation will be on creating a bespoke Malaysia Airlines HarmonyOS Atomic Service 2.0. This will utilise Huawei’s AI assistant Xiao Yi (Celia) in combination with HarmonyOS Intents Kit and AI-based intent recognition to enable users to find relevant airline features through authorised scenarios. Should this become technically feasible, then it is envisioned that the travelling experience will be more fluid with the ability to discover, book, check-in and view real-time flight information without the need to download and open a conventional airline application.
The initiative is designed to make airline services more accessible as part of the digital tools that Chinese consumers already use in their day-to-day lives. By connecting AI-assisted discovery to self-service options and real-time journey information, Malaysia Airlines will be able to create a more fluid digital experience, from planning a flight to departing on the journey. It will also support the airline’s wider goals of adapting its customer engagement to the expectations of increasingly connected travellers while also adhering to its commitment to Malaysian Hospitality.
Huawei Wearables Bring Flight Information to Travellers’ Wrists
The collaboration will also explore the option of integrating Malaysia Airlines services with Huawei smart wearables, including devices in the HUAWEI WATCH series. With HarmonyOS Live Window capabilities, the envisioned features would see passengers receiving flight notifications, accessing boarding passes and viewing relevant travel alerts on their wrists, to reduce the need for repeated checking on their smartphones.
This feature is intended to provide convenience to passengers, with a wealth of information being available to them during different phases of their journeys, such as when arriving at or departing from airports or boarding their flights. These functions remain subject to technical implementation, but the planned development indicates a broader trend of connected services that transcend the airline applications traditionally used and make key information available across devices.
Digital Marketing to Help Reach More Chinese Travellers
In addition to developing AI-powered services, Malaysia Airlines and Huawei will also explore opportunities to bolster digital marketing capabilities across the HarmonyOS ecosystem. This will utilise the capabilities of Huawei’s Petal Ads platform to help the airline present information on destinations, travel promotions and relevant services to users at appropriate moments in their digital journeys. The aim is to make travel discovery more targeted and connect potential customers with offers that align with their interests.
Dersenish Aresandiran said that Chinese customers expect useful travel services to be more readily available when they need them and across the devices that they use. He added that closer cooperation with Huawei would allow Malaysia Airlines to move away from the conventional app-based interactions by combining AI-assisted discovery, self-service functions and real-time travel information. Morgan Liu said that the partnership will bring together HarmonyOS services, wearable technology and ecosystem capabilities to make travel information and services more convenient for Chinese travellers.
Stronger Digital Links Support Malaysia Airlines’ China Network
The digital partnership complements Malaysia Airlines’ operations across Greater China, where its network currently serves nine gateways: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Changsha, Hong Kong and Taipei. Malaysia Aviation Group is also set to expand its regional connectivity through its airline Firefly, which intends to introduce daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and Kunming, subject to regulatory approval. The proposed route would bolster links between southwestern China and Malaysia, while also providing access to onward destinations through Kuala Lumpur.
By combining digital services with its existing and planned flight connections, Malaysia Airlines aims to cement its presence in the Chinese travel market and make its services more relevant to local customers. The MoU is also a step in the airline’s relationship-building with China, as it brings together aviation and technology capabilities to support leisure and business travel, enhance customer convenience and bolster travel and trade links between China and Malaysia. The cooperation also reflects the increasing role of AI, connected devices and digital ecosystems in the future of cross-border travel across the Asia-Pacific region.
