Firefly

ICAO: FFM IATA: FY Active as of Feb 1, 2026

Airline Statistics

64

Active Routes

1427

Flight Observations

22

Unique Destinations

23

Origin Airports

542

Avg Route Distance (mi)

1968

Longest Route (mi)

0

Domestic Routes

64

International Routes

About Firefly

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

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:

  • Complimentary Services: Many travelers appreciate the complimentary refreshments and a decent checked baggage allowance (20kg for ATR, 10kg for jet flights on FlyBasic), which is often a value-added feature compared to other low-cost carriers.
  • Comfortable Seating and Cabin Environment: Passengers frequently highlight the comfortable leather seats and good seat pitch, particularly on the ATR aircraft, leading to a pleasant journey. Refreshed cabin interiors on their Boeing 737-800s have also been positively noted.
  • Friendly and Efficient Cabin Crew: The attentiveness and efficiency of the flight attendants are often praised, especially for their ability to provide service promptly even on very short flights.
  • Convenient Operational Hubs: The use of city airports like Subang is highly valued for its accessibility and shorter travel times, particularly for those traveling to or from central Kuala Lumpur.

Common Complaints:

  • Frequent Flight Delays and Rescheduling: A significant and recurring complaint from travelers involves multiple flight reschedules and substantial delays, often communicated with short notice. This unpredictability can cause considerable inconvenience, especially for those with connecting plans or business appointments.
  • Customer Service Issues: Some reviews mention difficulties with customer service, including unresponsive email complaints and unhelpful or rude staff when issues arise. Firefly shifted to digital live chat support in July 2024, aiming to enhance customer experience.
  • Lack of In-Flight Entertainment/Wi-Fi: As a low-cost carrier, Firefly does not typically offer in-flight entertainment systems or Wi-Fi, which is a point of complaint for some passengers, especially on longer routes.

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.

Safety Information

Firefly Airlines maintains a solid safety profile, backed by recent certifications and a generally positive safety record.

  • Recent Safety Record and Notable Incidents: Firefly holds a 7/7 safety rating from AirlineRatings.com, which is the highest possible rating, indicating a strong commitment to safety standards. There are no reports of fatal accidents. However, past incidents include an engine shutdown in flight in 2013, issues with landing gear retraction in 2014, and an event involving smoke in the cabin in October 2024. These incidents appear to have been managed without major catastrophe, reflecting effective safety protocols.
  • Regulatory Certifications: In a significant development, Firefly successfully achieved registration in the International Air Transportation Association’s (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) in July 2024. This marks their first successfully completed IOSA audit as a registered airline, demonstrating adherence to high international aviation safety and operational excellence standards.
  • Fleet Age and Maintenance Reputation: Firefly operates a fleet comprising ATR 72-500 turboprops and Boeing 737-800 jets. The ATR 72 series aircraft are described as optimized for efficiency, passenger comfort, safety, and reliability. The Boeing 737-800s, while some may be around 13 years old, have reportedly undergone refreshing, presenting a modern and clean cabin interior. As a subsidiary of Malaysia Aviation Group, Firefly benefits from the robust maintenance and training standards associated with its parent company, Malaysia Airlines.
  • Overall Safety Assessment Based on Available Data: Based on the 7/7 safety rating from AirlineRatings.com and the recent IOSA registration in July 2024, Firefly's overall safety assessment is strong. The airline demonstrates a commitment to maintaining global safety benchmarks in its operations and procedures.
  • Safety Awards or Recognitions: Firefly received a Bronze Award in the Transportation, Travel & Tourism category at the 2024 Putra Brand Awards. While this award focuses on consumer preference and brand success rather than specific safety metrics, it reflects a broader positive perception of the airline, which includes aspects of reliable service and customer experience. The successful IOSA registration is itself a significant recognition of its adherence to international safety standards.
Compiled by AirportRoutes.com • Updated 2 months ago

Route Network Map

Click on any airport to see its routes

Most Popular Routes

156 flights
AT72
PEN → SZB
Penang International Airport → Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah
174 miles
142 flights
AT72
127 flights
AT72
99 flights
AT72
SZB → JHB
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah International Airport → Senai Int'l (Sultan Ismail Int'l)
179 miles
78 flights
AT72
71 flights
AT72
JHB → SZB
Senai International Airport → Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah
179 miles
69 flights
AT72
LGK → SZB
Langkawi International Airport → Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah
254 miles
60 flights
AT72
PEN → KBR
Penang International Airport → Sultan Ismail Petra
151 miles
49 flights
AT72
48 flights
AT72

Top Destinations

SZB (WMSA)
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah
Subang Jaya
334 flights
10 routes
PEN (WMKP)
Penang Int'l
George Town
229 flights
10 routes
XSP (WSSL)
Singapore Seletar Airport
Singapore
156 flights
1 route
KBR (WMKC)
Sultan Ismail Petra
Kota Bharu
154 flights
3 routes
KUL (WMKK)
Kuala Lumpur Int'l
Sepang
128 flights
9 routes
JHB (WMKJ)
Senai Int'l (Sultan Ismail Int'l)
Senai / Johor Bahru
87 flights
3 routes
TGG (WMKN)
Sultan Mahmud Int'l
Kuala Terengganu
71 flights
1 route
LGK (WMKL)
Langkawi Int'l
Langkawi (Pulau Langkawi)
67 flights
2 routes
BKI (WBKK)
Kota Kinabalu Int'l
Kota Kinabalu
58 flights
6 routes
AOR (WMKA)
Sultan Abdul Halim
Alor Star
41 flights
1 route

Top Origin Airports

SZB (WMSA)
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah International Airport
Subang
622 flights
8 routes
PEN (WMKP)
Penang International Airport
Penang
291 flights
10 routes
LGK (WMKL)
Langkawi International Airport
Langkawi
90 flights
2 routes
JHB (WMKJ)
Senai International Airport
Johor Bahru
84 flights
3 routes
KUL (WMKK)
Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Sepang
82 flights
9 routes
BKI (WBKK)
Kota Kinabalu International Airport
Kota Kinabalu
58 flights
7 routes
BTJ (WITT)
Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport
Banda Aceh
40 flights
1 route
XSP (WSSL)
Seletar Airport
Seletar
27 flights
1 route
TWU (WBKW)
Tawau Airport
Tawau
26 flights
3 routes
KCH (WBGG)
Kuching International Airport
Kuching
20 flights
3 routes

Top Border Crossing Flights

SZB (WMSA)
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah International Airport
Subang Jaya, MY
334 flights
10 routes
PEN (WMKP)
Penang International Airport
George Town, MY
229 flights
10 routes
XSP (WSSL)
Seletar Airport
Singapore, SG
156 flights
1 route
KUL (WMKK)
Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Sepang, MY
128 flights
9 routes
BKI (WBKK)
Kota Kinabalu International Airport
Kota Kinabalu, MY
58 flights
6 routes

Longest Routes

CKG → KCH
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport → Kuching Int'l
1968 mi
TFU → BKI
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport → Kota Kinabalu Int'l
1848 mi
PEN → CKG
Penang International Airport → Chongqing Jiangbei Int'l
1740 mi
CKG → PEN
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport → Penang Int'l
1740 mi
TWU → MFM
Tawau Airport → Macau Int'l
1270 mi

Shortest Routes

LGK → PEN
Langkawi International Airport → Penang Int'l
81 mi
PEN → LGK
Penang International Airport → Langkawi Int'l
81 mi
BKI → SDK
Kota Kinabalu International Airport → Sandakan
138 mi
PEN → KBR
Penang International Airport → Sultan Ismail Petra
151 mi
JHB → KUL
Senai International Airport → Kuala Lumpur Int'l
156 mi

All Routes

64 Total Routes
Showing 25 most popular routes
Route Destination Flights Distance Aircraft Last Seen
SZB → XSP Singapore Seletar Airport
Singapore
156 199 mi AT72 Jan 31, 2026
PEN → SZB Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah
Subang Jaya
142 174 mi AT72 Feb 1, 2026
SZB → PEN Penang Int'l
George Town
127 174 mi AT72 Jan 31, 2026
SZB → KBR Sultan Ismail Petra
Kota Bharu
99 216 mi AT72 Jan 31, 2026
SZB → JHB Senai Int'l (Sultan Ismail Int'l)
Senai / Johor Bahru
78 179 mi AT72 Jan 31, 2026
SZB → TGG Sultan Mahmud Int'l
Kuala Terengganu
71 189 mi AT72 Jan 31, 2026
JHB → SZB Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah
Subang Jaya
69 179 mi AT72 Jan 31, 2026
LGK → SZB Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah
Subang Jaya
60 254 mi AT72 Jan 30, 2026
PEN → KBR Sultan Ismail Petra
Kota Bharu
49 151 mi AT72 Jan 31, 2026
SZB → LGK Langkawi Int'l
Langkawi (Pulau Langkawi)
48 254 mi AT72 Jan 31, 2026
SZB → AOR Sultan Abdul Halim
Alor Star
41 226 mi AT72 Jan 31, 2026
BTJ → PEN Penang Int'l
George Town
40 335 mi AT72 Feb 1, 2026
LGK → PEN Penang Int'l
George Town
30 81 mi B738 Jan 30, 2026
XSP → SZB Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah
Subang Jaya
27 666 mi AT72 Jan 19, 2026
PEN → KUL Kuala Lumpur Int'l
Sepang
26 202 mi B738 Jan 31, 2026
BKI → KUL Kuala Lumpur Int'l
Sepang
25 1014 mi B738 Jan 29, 2026
KUL → BKI Kota Kinabalu Int'l
Kota Kinabalu
20 1014 mi B738 Jan 18, 2026
TWU → KUL Kuala Lumpur Int'l
Sepang
20 1139 mi B738 Jan 29, 2026
PEN → LGK Langkawi Int'l
Langkawi (Pulau Langkawi)
19 81 mi B738 Feb 1, 2026
PEN → HKT Phuket Int'l
Phuket
17 237 mi B738 Jan 28, 2026
KUL → PEN Penang Int'l
George Town
17 202 mi B738 Jan 24, 2026
PEN → BKI Kota Kinabalu Int'l
Kota Kinabalu
17 1087 mi B738 Oct 24, 2025
TGG → SZB Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah
Subang Jaya
15 189 mi AT72 Jan 28, 2026
KCH → KUL Kuala Lumpur Int'l
Sepang
15 604 mi B738 Jan 31, 2026
KUL → KCH Kuching Int'l
Kuching
15 604 mi B738 Jan 1, 2026
Data Information:

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.

Data Freshness: Real-time
Last Update: Feb 1, 2026 09:02
Coverage: Observed routes only