Malaysia Airlines has imposed a ban on checked-in baggage on its flights from Kuala Lumpur to Europe, citing safety and "strong head winds" as the reasons for the measure.

Economy passengers will only be allowed cabin baggage of up to 7 kilograms, while Business/First passengers can take two pieces on board totalling 14kg, the airline said on its website.

"In the interest of safety, Malaysia Airlines currently operates a long route to Europe, which combined with temporary unseasonably strong head winds, is limiting the airlines' ability to carry baggage in cargo," it said.

"This longer flight path consumes more jet fuel and for safety reasons, Malaysia Airlines has had to impose temporary limitation on checked in baggage allowance.

"Passengers who wish to check in their luggage will be able to do so, however their baggage will only arrive later."

On Christmas Day, flight MH132 from Auckland flew in the wrong direction after air traffic controllers were given the wrong flight plan.

The pilot of the Airbus A330 asked air traffic control why the flight had been instructed to head south instead of north to its destination, Kuala Lumpur.

Media reports said the pilot continued his flight across the Tasman Sea before changing course to Malaysia's capital.

The airline is reeling from the loss of two planes, including flight MH370, which disappeared in March last year, after inexplicably deviating from its Kuala Lumpur-Beijing flight path with 239 passengers and crew onboard.

Malaysia earlier this year confirmed that a wing part found on the French island of La Reunion in the Indian Ocean was from the plane, but no further wreckage has been found, despite an intensive Australian-led oceanic search.

The airline's disastrous 2014 also saw flight MH17 blown out of the sky by a ground-to-air missile over Ukraine, killing all 298 people onboard.

Analysts have claimed the airline, which has slipped further into the red, has been poorly managed for years.

In June, Malaysia Airlines' new CEO, Christoph Mueller, outlined plans to stabilise the carrier, including cutting 6,000 jobs.

ABC/AFP