No expense spared as Malaysia Airlines targets high-yield traffic
- BTN Archive Stories Issue #26
- Friday, 15 December 2006
MALAYSIA Airlines (MH) has moved into the top flight with its upgraded business and first class product on its fleet of Boeing 747 and 777 aircraft, writes John Newton.
The carrier has spared no expense on its premium cabins, which include a surprise or two for passenger comfort such as an in-seat back massage at the touch of a button, while a spacious new front-end toilet features a bidet.
Malaysia Airlines has 47 weekly services from five Australian capital cities to Kuala Lumpur, of which all but two are operated by B777-200s — which have been converted to two classes instead of three — and B747-400s. Two weekly services ex Perth are operated by A330 aircraft.
From now until the end of next March, the carrier will operate a mix of 777 and 747s on the afternoon service ex Perth. The 747s are configured in three classes, including first. The airline will revert to all-B777 flights ex Perth from April.
Malaysia says the comprehensive upgrade of its premium cabins — complete with a new totally new inflight delivery service — is designed to capture a greater segment of the premium travelling market.
The premium cabins of 17 B777-200 and 17 B747-400 aircraft have been progressively refurbished with the latest technology, futuristic style and innovative design. This coincided with special training of the carrier’s cabin staff to further enhance inflight service delivery.
The airline says the upgrade involved every aspect of service and facility on board the 777s and 747s to pamper the airline’s premium business travellers to a level that redefines air travel luxury and comfort.
Malaysian spent around A$260 million on the front-end upgrade, which provides better seat comfort with 80-inch seat pitch and flat bed facility in the first class of the B747s and a 58-inch seat pitch in the business class of the 747 and 777s. First class seats were removed on the 777s to pave the way for the new improved business class seats.
The new business (Golden Club) class seats on the two aircraft types have taken on a new dimension. They feature 35 striking blue and cream sleeper seats in a 2x3x2 configuration. The seats fold out to form nine-degree angled flat beds for sleeping comfort, with armrest finger touch control to adjust the seat or for a light, 10-minute pre-set back massage.
Other features include adjustable lumbar and headrest, privacy shell and a large meal tray. At recline position, the seat transverses inside the fixed shell, allowing for more personal space and privacy. In addition to the privacy shell, a sliding divider provides extra level of privacy to travellers while sleeping or working.
The centrepiece of the retrofitted first class on the 747s is the electrically operated seat that reclines to a full flat bed, extendable leg rest, adjustable lumbar with the massage feature, electrically operated headrest, a large dining table with a buddy seat and a privacy shell with no encroachment into the passenger's personal space.
The streamlined business and first class cabins offer the latest and what is claimed to be the 'most advanced' in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. This means that all passengers, regardless of class, have more than 350 entertainment options, all accessible through personal LCD touch screen monitors. These include 40 movies, 60 short features and 200 CD titles on demand. Passengers can start and stop their movies or music choices whenever they want and also have access to 45 video games and 10 interactive multiplayer games, as well as SMS and email facilities. Noise cancellation headphones enhance the audio experience. (The same IFE is available to economy class passengers - but through different hardware).
Business class passengers can also enjoy the same mood lighting system that illuminates the new B747 first class cabins. They can experience day and night as the lighting system changes colours and shades to help the body travel across time zones comfortably.
