Malaysian Airlines has formally launched its pilgrim-based Airbus A380 operation Amal, unveiling a new logo for the service which has already been carrying out flights for some four months. The country’s economic affairs minister, Mohamed Azmin Ali, was among the high-level parties attending the 12 February event. Amal has been established to focus on pilgrimage operations – for Hajj and Umrah – connecting communities mainly in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand to holy sites in Saudi Arabia. The carrier officially showed off the branding as well as a logo which, according to accompanying illustrations, could feature on the nose of Malaysia A380s. “We see big potential for the Hajj and Umrah market,” says Malaysia Airlines chief Izham Ismail. “We have the added advantage of having years of experience providing such a service.”<br/>