Originally Posted by
EuropeanPete
Not being able to fly over Russian airspace will be a factor.
For LHR<->KUL route the restrictions on flying over Russia (and Ukraine) are probably not that significant as MH flights on this route seem to use only slightly more southern route compared to the most optimal great circle route that would go over Ukraine and Russia. The closed Russian airspace is bigger problem for flights between Europe and Japan, Korea and China as there you have to take a long detour to avoid Russian airspace.