Malaysia Airlines to introduce new business class seats on A330 flights out of Australia

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Malaysia Airlines to introduce new business class seats on A330 flights out of Australia

By Jamie Freed
Updated
Malaysia Airlines business class section.

Malaysia Airlines business class section.

Malaysia Airlines will roll out new, more luxurious business class seats on the A330 aircraft it flies to and from Australia next year as the ailing carrier looks to regain its competitiveness in premium cabins against rivals like Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Emirates.

The new business class seat unveiled at the World Travel Market in London this week will be in a 1-2-1 and 1-2-2 seating configuration, meaning 90 per cent of the seats will have direct aisle access. That compares with the current 2-2-2 configuration on its aircraft, which is less competitive among business travellers seeking aisle access and the privacy of not having a neighbour.

The new seats will also feature a 76 inch fully-flat bed, as opposed to the angled lie-flat beds on its current A330 configuration, as well as additional stowage space for personal items and a 16-inch Panasonic touch-screen in-flight entertainment system. Each A330-300 will feature 27 of the seats, down 25 per cent from 36 in the current configuration. The number of economy class seats will rise by 6.5 per cent to 263 from 247 as part of the changes.

The new seats will also feature a 76 inch fully-flat bed.

The new seats will also feature a 76 inch fully-flat bed.

Malaysia Airlines chief executive Christoph Mueller said he was excited to be introducing the new product amid his broader overhaul of the airline, which is still recovering from the tragic losses of MH370 and MH17 last year.

"The new seats and configuration have been designed to give a superb space for work, play or sleep," he said. "This product will make us more competitive against other full-service carriers and is part of the airline's push to be more customer centric, offering new, personalised and innovative products."

Mr Mueller last month said the carrier also had plans to refresh its lounges and catering as it refreshes its brand and focuses more on being a leading carrier of passengers around Asia rather than looking to dominate the Kangaroo route between Australia and Europe. It will also introduce new staff uniforms.

90 per cent of the seats will have direct aisle access.

90 per cent of the seats will have direct aisle access.

In August, it cut the number of weekly flights from Australia to 43 from 73 by dropping Brisbane flights altogether and reducing frequencies from Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide.

Rival Malaysian carrier AirAsia X has also cut its capacity, in a move industry sources say has benefited carriers flying between Australia and Singapore, which is geographically close to Kuala Lumpur. Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Qantas, Jetstar and Emirates fly between Australia and Singapore.

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