Malaysia Airlines Deepens Huawei Collaboration to Advance AI-Powered Travel Services on HarmonyOS

Malaysia Airlines is taking the next step in its digital engagement with Chinese travellers through a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Huawei, covering AI-enabled HarmonyOS services, wearable integration and ecosystem marketing.

By making airline services easier to access across connected devices and everyday digital touchpoints, the partnership is designed to create a more intuitive journey, from discovering and booking a flight to receiving timely travel updates.
The MoU was formalised by Dersenish Aresandiran, Chief Commercial Officer of Airline Business from Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), and Mr. Morgan Liu, Director, Oversea Ecosystem Development from Huawei Services (Hong Kong) Co.,Ltd, in conjunction with Malaysia Airlines’ 2026 China Trade Gala held in Shanghai on 22 September 2026.

Dersenish Aresandiran, Chief Commercial Officer of Airline Business from MAG, said: “Our customers in China are highly connected and expect useful travel services to be available at the right moment and on the devices they use every day. Expanding our work with Huawei allows us to rethink how customers interact with Malaysia Airlines beyond a conventional app by bringing together AI-enabled discovery, self-service functions and real-time journey information. This is an important step towards creating a smarter and more intuitive travel experience that remains grounded in Malaysian Hospitality.”

Mr. Morgan Liu, Director, Oversea Ecosystem Development from Huawei Services (Hong Kong) Co.,Ltd, said: “We are pleased to deepen our collaboration with Malaysia Airlines and explore how HarmonyOS can support a more intelligent and connected travel experience. By bringing together HarmonyOS services, wearable devices and ecosystem capabilities, we aim to help travellers access relevant information and services more conveniently throughout their journey. We look forward to creating an intelligent and connected experience tailored to Chinese travellers.”

The first area of cooperation centres on a customised Malaysia Airlines HarmonyOS Atomic Service 2.0. Using Huawei’s AI assistant Xiao Yi (Celia), HarmonyOS Intents Kit and AI-driven intent recognition, the service is intended to surface relevant Malaysia Airlines functions based on user-authorised scenarios. Subject to technical deployment, travellers would be able to access services including flight booking, check-in and real-time flight status without downloading or opening a conventional airline app.
Travel information will also move beyond the phone. Planned integration with Huawei smart wearables, including HUAWEI WATCH series devices would allow passengers to receive flight notifications, view boarding passes and access relevant travel alerts directly from their wrists through HarmonyOS Live Window capabilities. This would give customers more immediate access to essential journey information as they move through different stages of their trip.

Malaysia Airlines and Huawei will also work across the broader HarmonyOS ecosystem to enhance precision partner marketing. Utilising commercial growth capabilities, including the Petal Ads platform, will help Malaysia Airlines reach HarmonyOS users at suitable moments with destination content, travel offers and services aligned with their interests.

This digital expansion complements Malaysia Airlines’ physical network across Greater China, currently spans nine gateways: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Changsha, Hong Kong and Taipei. MAG’s connectivity with China will soon expand further through its regional airline Firefly, which plans to commence daily services between Kuala Lumpur and Kunming, subject to regulatory approval. The new route will create an additional link between Southwest China and Malaysia while providing access to onward destinations through Kuala Lumpur.

Beyond its customer-facing benefits, the MoU marks another step in Malaysia Airlines’ long-term commitment to China by building locally relevant digital capabilities alongside its expanding network. Working with a leading Chinese technology company enables the airline to connect more deeply with China’s travel and technology ecosystem, support smoother mobility for leisure and business travellers, and strengthen travel and trade links between China and Malaysia. The cooperation also demonstrates how the aviation and technology industries can work together to advance the next generation of connected cross-border travel across the Asia-Pacific region.