Malaysia Air Lines

Malayan Aviation History

Scheduled air passenger services in Malaya commenced in 1937 when Wearnes Air Services (WAS) commenced operating services between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Wearnes Air Services was started by two Australian brothers, Theodore and Charles Wearnes.^[8] The service commenced as a thrice weekly flight between Singapore and Penang The first flight, using an 8-seater de Havilland Dragon Rapide D.H.89A took place on 28 June 1937. This inaugural flight possibly departed from either the older Seletar Airport or the then brand new Kallang Airport. Later a second D.H.89A enabled the expansion to daily services as well as the addition of Ipoh as a destination. The WAS services ceased with the onset of the Second World War Japanese occupation of Malaya and Singapore.