Firefly Airlines (ICAO: FFM) is a Malaysian regional and low-cost carrier, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), alongside Malaysia Airlines. The airline was founded on March 16, 2007, and commenced operations on April 3, 2007, with its inaugural flight from Penang International Airport to Kota Bharu. Initially, Firefly focused on connecting underserved domestic markets within Malaysia.
Firefly's main operational bases and hubs are Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang and Penang International Airport in Penang, with a secondary hub at Kota Kinabalu International Airport in Sabah. The airline operates a dual-fleet strategy, primarily utilizing ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft for short-haul routes and Boeing 737-800 jet aircraft for medium-haul and higher-capacity services. After a decade-long hiatus, Firefly resumed jet operations in 2021/2022, expanding its network and service offerings. Its fleet currently consists of 9 ATR 72s and 5 Boeing 737-800s.
The airline's route network extends across Malaysia domestically and to neighboring countries including Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and China. Firefly operates a total of 28 scheduled flights, encompassing 16 domestic routes within Malaysia and 12 international routes across 6 countries. Firefly is not a member of any major global airline alliance (like Star Alliance, SkyTeam, or Oneworld); however, it is linked to Malaysia Airlines' frequent flyer program, Enrich, allowing passengers to earn and redeem miles. The airline primarily offers an Economy Class cabin, featuring complimentary refreshments, a checked baggage allowance (10kg for jet flights on FlyBasic, 20kg for ATR), and assigned seating. For jet operations, Firefly has introduced prebooked meals and a "FY Neighbour-Free Seat" option for added comfort.
Traveler reviews for Firefly Airlines present a mixed but generally satisfactory picture, with notable appreciation for certain aspects despite recurring complaints about operational consistency. The overall sentiment is that the airline can provide a pleasant experience when flights run smoothly, but reliability issues can significantly impact traveler satisfaction. Firefly receives an average rating of 7.4/10 from travelers, indicating good service overall.
What Travelers Love:
Common Complaints:
Overall sentiment is mixed, with strong positives for in-flight service and comfort when flights are on schedule, contrasted by frustration over frequent and often inconvenient flight delays and reschedules.
Firefly Airlines maintains a solid safety profile, backed by recent certifications and a generally positive safety record.
| Route | Destination | Flights | Distance | Aircraft | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SZB → XSP |
Singapore Seletar Airport
Singapore
|
116 | 199 mi | AT72 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| PEN → SZB |
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah
Subang Jaya
|
109 | 174 mi | AT72 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| SZB → PEN |
Penang Int'l
George Town
|
92 | 174 mi | AT72 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| SZB → KBR |
Sultan Ismail Petra
Kota Bharu
|
75 | 216 mi | AT72 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| SZB → TGG |
Sultan Mahmud Int'l
Kuala Terengganu
|
58 | 189 mi | AT72 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| SZB → JHB |
Senai Int'l (Sultan Ismail Int'l)
Senai / Johor Bahru
|
57 | 179 mi | AT72 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| JHB → SZB |
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah
Subang Jaya
|
50 | 179 mi | AT72 | Dec 8, 2025 |
| LGK → SZB |
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah
Subang Jaya
|
47 | 254 mi | AT72 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| PEN → KBR |
Sultan Ismail Petra
Kota Bharu
|
40 | 151 mi | AT72 | Dec 6, 2025 |
| SZB → LGK |
Langkawi Int'l
Langkawi (Pulau Langkawi)
|
38 | 254 mi | AT72 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| BTJ → PEN |
Penang Int'l
George Town
|
32 | 335 mi | AT72 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| SZB → AOR |
Sultan Abdul Halim
Alor Star
|
30 | 226 mi | AT72 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| XSP → SZB |
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah
Subang Jaya
|
21 | 199 mi | AT72 | Dec 3, 2025 |
| KUL → BKI |
Kota Kinabalu Int'l
Kota Kinabalu
|
18 | 1014 mi | B738 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| PEN → KUL |
Kuala Lumpur Int'l
Sepang
|
17 | 202 mi | B738 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| PEN → BKI |
Kota Kinabalu Int'l
Kota Kinabalu
|
17 | 1087 mi | B738 | Oct 24, 2025 |
| PEN → HKT |
Phuket Int'l
Phuket
|
16 | 237 mi | B738 | Dec 8, 2025 |
| PEN → LGK |
Langkawi Int'l
Langkawi (Pulau Langkawi)
|
15 | 81 mi | B738 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| LGK → PEN |
Penang Int'l
George Town
|
15 | 81 mi | B738 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| KUL → KCH |
Kuching Int'l
Kuching
|
14 | 604 mi | B738 | Nov 21, 2025 |
| TGG → SZB |
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah
Subang Jaya
|
14 | 189 mi | AT72 | Sep 4, 2025 |
| KCH → KUL |
Kuala Lumpur Int'l
Sepang
|
12 | 604 mi | B738 | Nov 30, 2025 |
| BKI → KUL |
Kuala Lumpur Int'l
Sepang
|
12 | 1014 mi | B738 | Dec 5, 2025 |
| TWU → KUL |
Kuala Lumpur Int'l
Sepang
|
11 | 1139 mi | B738 | Dec 5, 2025 |
| BKI → TWU |
Tawau
Tawau
|
9 | 182 mi | B738 | Sep 3, 2025 |
Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.